City administrator Domingo Contreras, speaking at the Future of Santo Domingo presentation at the Ministry of Foreign Relations last week, outlined what he described as the challenges for Santo Domingo. He said they have a long-term vision, but the challenge is for the annual budget to be in tune with the long-term vision. He said the Santo Domingo city government seeks to make Santo Domingo “a sustainable, walkable and cultural city”. He announced that progress had been made with the completion of the Plaza Juan Baron with the support of the Sans Souci group that is renovating the port of Santo Domingo, to be followed by the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Park, and the 1.5 kms of 10-meter wide sidewalk that will run from the Obelisk to Maximo Gomez Avenue.
He also mentioned that renovations of produce markets were a priority for the city government. He said that in most cities, the market is a tourist attraction.
Contreras announced that the city government would soon be submitting a City Land Use Plan for approval. He stressed that this was urgent. “A city is more attractive to tourists when it is more livable,” he said. He said the land use plan would focus on alleviating traffic jams, getting urban development under control and green areas.