The president of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association, Roberto Henríquez, calls for the demolition of the two high-rise buildings that would have been hotels but were abandoned for construction problems on the Malecón near Plaza Guibia. He says the buildings are used as hideouts by criminals, prostitution and drug addicts and create a feeling of abandonment to the area.
He also says the authorities need to improve the lighting on the Malecon, eliminate heavy vehicle traffic and force owners to clean-up empty lots.
Henriquez says that businesses located on the Malecon that have gone bankrupt need to be repossessed, especially those properties from the Fray Anton de Montesinos monument to Abraham Lincoln Avenue. Ironically, Henriquez claims these businesses went bankrupt precisely due to the abandonment the iconic avenue during the past city administration.
Henriquez had praise for the efforts rolled out by new National District Mayor David Collado to rescue the Malecon. He mentioned the expansion of the sidewalks and the placement of benches so people can contemplate the sea. He said the city hoteliers are 100% behind the efforts by the new mayor to return the Malecon to its splendor of past decades.
Henríquez says that there are four major hotels on the Malecon – Sheraton, Jaragua, Crowne Plaza, Catalonia that have invested heavily in improvements. He also mentioned the new Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center that is located on the Malecon.
Henriquez spoke of the three key points in the city that are the Malecon, the Colonial City and the Poligono Central.
“But no one is stopping the Malecon and its recovery has to be definite,” he said.
Henriquez says prospects are good for the construction of four or five new hotels in Santo Domingo to take advantage of the cultural attractions of the Colonial City, the gastronomy of the city and the high level medical tourism.
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Hoy
7 April 2017
