Plaza Juan Baron on Santo Domingo’s Malecon is the first public space to be renovated as part of a joint public-private initiative. The 3,902.46m2 central plaza has two 1,034m2 and 1,067m2 commercial areas with seven retail modules. The open space covers more than 2,376m2.
The Grupo Turistico Sans Souci, which manages the Port of Santo Domingo concession, funded the renovation. El Caribe reported that just a year ago, the area was turning into a slum and was notable for its lack of hygiene and for being a drug sales and consumption point. City Mayor Roberto Salcedo stated that the completed renovation is just the start of a plan that spans the length of the entire Malecon, the city’s seafront avenue. He announced that the next sites to be completed would be the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Park, opposite the remodeled Plaza Juan Baron, Guibia Beach, a 10-meter wide maritime walk and the Presidente Vicini boulevard.