The saga of neighborhood groups that seek to put a stop to the construction of a controversial and illegal motel in the western section of the sea-bordering Malecon continues. Influential TV host Mariasela Alvarez made hers the plight and challenged central and city government officials to take action.
Alvarez highlighted all throughout the program that the Malecon needs its citizens and government to come together so the sea-bordering avenue can become a leading Dominican attraction. She highlighted how water fronts around the world are the prime residential and commercial areas of a city.
The participants in the Tuesday, 25 July 2023 Esta Noche con Mariasela round table were: the dean of architecture of the UNPHU, Omar Rancier; restaurant entrepreneur Luis Marino Lopez (Adrian Tropical, Malecon 7); municipal expert Waldy Jaquez; lawyer Julian Roa for the neighborhood groups; and Johan Santiago, Urban Infrastructure director of the city government of Carolina Mejia. They addressed what is happening and the challenges ahead, including the construction of a controversial motel.
Luis Marino Lopez presented the project that had called for the top 10 architects in the country to submit proposals to improve the sea-bordering avenue and an innovative scheme carried out when he was president of the Santo Domingo Touristic Cluster that would tackle the sea-bordering road as if it were a condominium. He has hope the project will be considered by the Abinader administration and city government.
Omar Rancier of the UNPHU stressed that political will to comply with laws and quality architectural proposals have been lacking in the case of the Malecon. He said in addition to the violation of the motel’s construction, trucks and high speed continue to affect the sea-bordering 14 km long boulevard and its neighborhoods and family-oriented businesses.
Waldys Jaquez explained that it has always been the government that has invested in improving the Malecon and urged the Abinader government to take action.
Johan Santiago spoke of Mayor Carolina Mejia’s efforts to secure financing to build parks along the Malecon for the enjoyment of residents. One of the recent parks is adjacent to the site where the same city government illegally authorized the motel’s construction. Another is but about 100 meters away.
Julian Roa detailed the plight of neighborhood groups that see how Carolina Mejia is the first mayor in around 30 years, to violate city resolutions that ban the construction of motels on the avenue. He said the neighborhood groups hope the city government will fulfill its word and back the call of neighborhood groups to stop the construction of the motel during the 28 July 2023 hearing of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA).
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Esta Noche con Mariasela
DR1 News
DR1 News
26 July 2023