The construction of the controversial project to build an entertainment center at the site of the first Catholic monastery in the Americas, the San Francisco Ruins, is contingent upon the approval from the UNESCO. The Colonial City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and must meet guidelines of the United Nations body in terms of remodeling existing and creating new structures. As reported in El Dia, the Unesco received the San Francisco Ruins project on 6 July 2015. It was submitted by the firm of Spanish architect Jose Rafael Moneo.
A Unesco spokesperson said that until the findings of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are known, no remodeling or new construction can be started. The Dominican chapter of Icomos is firmly against the proposal presented by the Spanish architect. Monument heritage experts within the Ministry of Culture oppose the project as well.
Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia called for a meeting of stakeholders and experts next week to address the San Francisco Ruins proposal.
As reported in El Dia, a Unesco representative explained that Peter Debrine, a specialist in sustainable tourism of Unesco came for a presentation on sustainable cultural tourism and destination management models for a world heritage site. The meeting is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.
The Ministry of Tourism is managing a large InterAmerican Development Bank project that has the goal of designing and implementing a number of strategies to preserve the heritage of the Colonial City, while strengthening its position as the primary site for tourists visiting Santo Domingo. The renovation of the San Francisco Ruins and its proposed transformation into a major entertainment center is part of these works that the IDB would be partially funding with US$7 million.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2015/07/10/i1233491_icomos-mitur-quieren-mismo-para-las-ruinas-san-francisco.html