Alfonso Vegara, president of the International Society of City and Regional Planners and Fundacion Metropoli, says that Santo Domingo needs to take advantage of its geographic location to claim its rightful place as “door to the Caribbean”. Vegara spoke at the Santo Domingo 2015 Congress held by the city of Santo Domingo. He described Santo Domingo as “a diamond in the raw.”
He recommended that Santo Domingo create an area of singular excellence around the axis where the Ozama River, Colonial City, Malecon and Sans Souci area converge. He feels this area could brand the city, in the same way that the opera house does for Sydney, Australia.
Vegara urged government resources be directed to urban renewal along the Ozama River area. He described the Malecon as “one of the loveliest strolls in the world” with great landscape, colors and activities. He said that it is one of the most democratic spaces in the city, where rich and poor merge. He spoke of the Malecon as a great opportunity. Vegara suggested that the Malecon be extended over the Ozama River through to the Avenida Espana. He envisions the development of the Sans Souci area.
Furthermore, Vegara described the Colonial City as, “formidable.” He proposed that the Colonial City become a node for cultural and leisure activities, a center for the arts, and for research activities. He urged that projects for the Colonial City be those that foster the flow of creativeness. He says the Colonial City needs to be the place where everyone wants to visit or live.
In his presentation, Vegara presented highlights and ideas from the cities of Singapore, Madrid, Dublin, Curitiba, Philadelphia, Boston, Bilbao, Casablanca (Morocco), Winhoek (Namibia) that he feels Santo Domingo could adopt.
Above all, Vegara spoke out for projects that would be open to all residents and tourists alike, promoting social integration.