1. Those apartments are not for Dominicans, lol.. they are for elites and Europeans.

2. I doubt they will withstand any tremor that presents itself, I haven't heard or seen any seismic testing ever done in the island.

3. Fire safety is Def. a concern speacially since now they are running gas lines underground.
The fire dept. barely has working trucks, let a lone a 20 story ladder.

4. These buildings are probably beign build with fradulent funds, I mean is it a mystery why most politicians are "Civil engineers"? ( we are the only country who thinks engineers can run it better than a political scientist)

5. Zoning permits are being circumvented by people with "clout" do we really know what these towers will do to the area in a few years?

6. Lastly, Why isn't the government demaning 20% of the units to be affordable housing in exchange for ludicrous loans without merritt. ( how can the whole world be in a depression and the DR's construction industry is booming??

Sight... -.-

so you say those apartments are not for Dominicans? are you f*** kidding me?

Does apartments are for everybody with the money to buy them, and there are many Dominican middle upper class and rich Dominicans who can afford it so stop making such an ignorant statement.

I just found out that the future Blue Mall in Santo Domingo will have a Starbucks!!!! I will get some official press info later on.

In my opinion Starbucks is overrated and overpriced. Their specialty coffees are good to above average, service is alright, nothing to rave about and no one can claim them to be great. I can't figure the reason for their growth, assuming the success is based primarily on the product line itself. If it is not that, then it must be because of their usually well selected, excellent locations, decor and ambiance and if it is what people want and wish to pay, then OK, but other then that, for me I don't see anything to justify the cost of the product.

Myself, I just want a normal, plain and simple, regular everyday cup of Java, but starbucks version simply sucks.........!!!!! I can't believe, that after all the ra-ra and fanfare, they can't get that one thing right. Anyway, after paying the cashier and getting your coffee in paper cups, with a plastic stirs, they make you go to the nearby, self-service counter, forced to add the suger and cream and all the other stuff yourself. I can do that at the local gas station for less then half the price for crying out loud!!! And one of the main reasons, why I don't go there.

Believe me, most times when I order regular coffee at starbucks, the taste is usually bitter and the tempature less then hot. After you add the cream, it gets warm and eventually after a few minutes and only after half-way done, it ends up cold. When paying close to $3.00 bucks for a cup of brew, I want to enjoy my coffee every bit or sip to the last drop.

I can tell you one thing, I am not going to be the first one to run over to get coffee when and if they open up in the DR. But thanks for the info. I will pass it along to some of the Starbuck fans that I know.

Papa John's | Lincoln Avenue | SANTO DOMINGO

I know these pics are kinda tiny but here they are!



Here's another one of Papa John's right next to Burger King:

They will never get the quality and taste of a Chicago style or NYC style pizza in DR.
The same goes for Chicago style or NYC style hot dogs... These two cities have the best pizza and dogs in the world. You can build all you want in DR and try to make it look like the places in USA, but the taste will never be there. I don't know why... Is it the water? the oils? Is it being cooked useing propane???

I don't know about you, but when I am in the DR the last thing I want to do is patronize a US franchise.
What's the point? It was just like my first trip to Cancun, Mexico. Most of all the bars and restaurants were American or American styled franchises. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against them, It was all nice, fine and dandy, but I felt like I was in Miami Beach. I did not need to fly into another country to get the same experience I have back home. It is like going out to dinner for a special night out on the town and I end up ordering "la bandera'" arroz, abichuela y carne. Why in the world would I do that, get the same thing I have at home? Of course for some people, that is all they know or would care to eat. But in my case I would not miss it and can do without.

If there is something I hate is "cookie cutter" stuff. Same goes with urban developments. You go into a new housing project and all the houses look same. Like most places around the world, the DR is following and falling into the same trap under the name of "progress." I think there will be a time when everything will all be the same; you would not be able to tell the difference between one place or the other. Oh, how boring.........yuck!!!!

Then again I realize that change is good and had it not been for change, we would still be living in trees or caves and writing on stone. But that is precisely my point, "CHANGE" is good for something new and different, not change for something similar to the same thing.

I hear you... I had pizza hut once in Santiago and it was because I was buzzed and just wanted anything in my belly. I always love the empanadas and all of the street foods in Santiago. Why eat at papa johns when you can have a real plate by the monument in Santiago

This must be for mommy and daddy's kids that have enough pesos to eat here. I know that the average Dominican will not be able to eat at papa johns... Why spend 250-350 pesos per plate when you can buy a empanada for 30 pesos?

ive been reading this thread and its a little anoyying how every time some1 posts a picture or some new building up, there come waves of people saying how none of this is good, how it was all drug money used 2 build these things, how it does nothing for the average dominican, how it was all for foreign investors and only foreigners 2 use...
letz skip all the criticism. take the pics for what they are... how about we comment on the architexture involved, if it looks good or not, what are some of the GOOD things these things will do for the surrounding neihborhoods and the economy.

as some1 said b4 SOME improvment is better then NONE at all. you see how much foreign investment china is getting from companies all over the world and you cant tell me the average chinese family hasnt improved their quality of life because of it.