The municipality of La Caleta in La Romana is proposing a seafront boulevard for La Romana, as reported in Listin Diario. The project, if implemented, would be funded by Spanish investment but would also require the support of the Dominican government. It is proposing the construction of a three-kilometer boulevard at a cost of US$300 million in a first phase. A marina, customs offices, shop kiosks, parking, luxury apartments and a ferry dock are being considered as part of the boardwalk. The ferry would take visitors to Catalina Island on beach day trips and to see the wreck of the Captain Kidd pirate ship.
The project is being promoted by La Caleta’s municipal director Neftali Rijo, who says that the project was designed by experts at the School of Engineering and Architecture of the Universidad Central del Este under Architect Memo Mejia.
The project was presented to Leopoldo Arnaiz, president of Arnaiz & Partners, a leading construction firm in Spain.
If approved, the boulevard will be built in the La Caleta beach area in La Romana, between Playa Caleta to Boqueron. Rijo said that the project, which complies with ministry of Tourism and Environment requirements, would represent progress for the beach area, which is frequented mainly by local people.
Rijo told Listin Diario that the project would boost tourism in La Romana. “The socio-economic contribution and impact of the project is invaluable because it will revolutionize tourism in the area and could have repercussions for other parts of the country, but with greater controls,” he said.
He said that the Spanish company was interested in the project but a push from the central government, legislators, authorities and private sector would also be needed for it to come to fruition.
The area is currently known for its beach but also for its “Villa Panty” area, where dozens of small clothing manufacturers mainly specialize in producing underwear. Most of these small business owners were trained in the La Romana free zone and went on to open their own small factories.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/01/11/403426/proyecto-dotaria-a-la-romana-de-malecon-de-3-km
