Enrique Penalosa called for the carrying out of a world architecture contest inviting the best urban architects and backed by renown universities, even if this cost US$500-US$1 million, prior to making major decisions regarding the construction of an artificial island in the front of Santo Domingo. He said these could look into alternative proposals such as walkways and improving the coast. Penalosa was critical of the island that he said would hide the view of the sea from city inhabitants.
Meanwhile, speaking for the government, architect Eduardo Selman defended the project that would be a “fundamentally Spanish” investment of US$400 to US$450 million.” He mentioned the builders would be Necso Entrecanales Cubiertas, Taller de Arquitectura (Ricardo Bofill) and Dominican architects Gustavo More and Pedro Borell.
The proposal is for the construction of a cultural center, green areas, port, hotels, malls, offices, high-rise apartments, a marina for 300 yachts on the one million square kilometer island that would front the Malecon. The investment would be private and it would be built right in front of high rises such as the Malecon Center that are today empty on the Malecon.
Spanish architect Jordi Borja, one of the key architects of the success story of Barcelona, who also came for the Santo Domingo 2015 city congress, speaking to the press during a press conference was critical of the proposal of the artificial island. He said it would have a negative impact on landscaping, and would be but the construction of an enclave. He told his audience that if the city continues to build enclaves instead of socially-integrated spaces, the separation of classes would require private armies to maintain security.
Alfonso Vegara commented when asked by reporters about the island: “What Santo Domingo needs is socially-integrated spaces; not islands for hotels.”