Santo Domingo’s ambitious Colonial City revitalization program, backed by an approximately US$90 million investment, is on track for completion in September 2026, a report in Listin Diario reveals. The initiative aims to transform the historic city center, enhancing livability for residents, merchants, and visitors alike.
Launched formally in 2020 and actively underway since 2023, the program has already seen over half of its projects finished. Architect Amín Abel Santos, general coordinator of the comprehensive program (known as “Tu Ciudad Colonial”), confirmed the target deadline to Listin Diario.
“We absolutely have to finish by September 2026. We are committed to the timeline to complete all the streets in 2026. We are already at a 70% completion rate,” Santos told Listin Diario.
The revitalization effort extends beyond street improvements, encompassing the restoration of long-neglected museums, temples, chapels, sanctuaries, and historical monuments.
During a recent meeting with stakeholders, Tourism Minister David Collado underscored the critical importance of adhering to the scheduled completion date. He emphasized that all outstanding work must be accelerated to avoid further delays.
The media reported on Collado’s stark warning regarding Las Mercedes Street, demanding its completion by July 2025. Failure to meet this deadline, he asserted, would result in legal action against the contractors involved.
“I have a commitment to the people, to the business owners, to the entrepreneurs here in Ciudad Colonial, and to tourism development, both international and domestic,” Collado declared passionately. “I am calling on them here to double their work brigades, and I am setting a firm deadline for Las Mercedes to be delivered, completed for the people and the community, by July.”
The Minister further instructed that workers be doubled for increased efficiency and mandated weekly progress reports from contractors every Monday for public transparency.
In addition to historic preservation, the project includes crucial infrastructure upgrades such as sidewalk repairs, curb installations, storm drainage improvements, and street paving. These enhancements are designed not only to attract tourists but also to significantly benefit local residents.
Officials clarified that project delays have primarily stemmed from heavy rainfall and archaeological discoveries. Such findings necessitate adherence to UNESCO regulations to safeguard the area’s cultural heritage status. Each intervention undergoes a three-week to one-month archaeological assessment, with findings potentially prolonging the process due to required excavation protocols.
“That’s why every project in the Colonial City is not the same as a project done anywhere else in the capital or another province. Here, we have to work hand-in-hand with cultural heritage and examine these findings,” the Minister acknowledged in explaining the delays.
Collado acknowledged that while the program aims to beautify the Colonial City, some businesses have inevitably been impacted during the construction phase. To mitigate these effects, the Micro and Small Business Support Program (PAM) has been implemented. This initiative seeks to bolster the local economy as revitalization activities continue, having already benefited 120 businesses in its initial phase. Another 60 were selected for the second phase.
Collado stated: “I do not charge commission,” urging the works step up the construction pace, as reported in Diario Libre.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
2 July 2025