President Luis Abinader visited the Av. Duarte and Paris street intersection on Wednesday, 7 September 2022 for the inauguration of the second phase of the urban renewal project.
Abinader said the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) officials, namely Tourism Minister David Collado and National District Mayor Carolina Mejia have achieved what city governments from a handful of other past governments had failed to do for decades — the clean-up and organization of the Duarte con Paris shopping area.
The laissez-faire of previous governments for years had allowed the worsening of the slumization and environmental degradation in the area as informal vendors took over the Duarte Avenue shopping district. The street and sidewalks takeover by the vendors made vehicular and pedestrian passing difficult and was an eyesore and urban hygiene problem for decades. Several mayors of different political parties and governments had tried to organize the vendors.
When he was Mayor of Santo Domingo, today Tourism Minister David Collado found a solution to clean up the area that has subsequently been implemented as a private-public effort. Collado continued with the plan when he was named Minister of Tourism, with the support of Mayor Carolina Mejia.
The remodeling has included placing electrical system underground, installation of LED lights, a new rain water and sanitary drainage system, street furniture stations, module stations for retail outlets, among other improvements.
The second phase inaugurated this week is about the section from Duarte Avenue to José Martí Avenue, where booths were again arranged on wide sidewalks and a cobblestone street built. RD$202 million were contributed through the Fundacion Acción, Emprende y Transforma that is presided by Collado.
Luis Abinader on Duarte with Paris: “What other mayors tried for 30 years is becoming a reality.”
The President said the project has called for an investment of RD$202 million, and includes the Paris Street, the Avenida Duarte from Jacinto de la Concha to Jose Martí avenue.
For her part, National District Carolina Mejía says that she is very proud of the work and that she will continue to work to expand the project for the benefit of the street vendors and to preserve the public spaces.
Tourism Minister David Collado recalled that this intervention began as a result of a collaboration agreement with the city of Guayaquil, where a similar urban renewal process took place. He said a delegation of street vendors from the area were sent to Guayaquil to see for themselves. Dominican architects picked up tips of this solution that they would put to work for Santo Domingo. A first phase was inaugurated in 2021.
A third phase of the urban renewal project is ongoing. It is the stretch from Jose Brea Avenue on the east side to San Martín Avenue. It covers the Duarte Avenue from Paris Street to Mexico Avenue, the Reading and Music promenades, and Enriquillo Park, and calls for an investment of RD$440 million. Paris Street is being paved, with its two-lane space reduced to allow more space for sidewalks and booths.
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Diario Libre
8 September 2022