Fiel photos of the Ruinas de San Francisco. File photo http://1.bp.blogspot.com
Santo Domingo.- National Monuments Patrimony director Edda Grullon Thursday warned that Tuesday’s collapse of a house in the Colonial Zone, with three people seriously injured, signals an alert on the need to save those structures.
She said the collapse stressed the urgency with which those constructions should be dealt with, declared by UNESCO as Patrimony of Humanity, and cautioned that the lack of funds will lead to, not only the loss of those assets, but also human lives.
Grullon affirmed that the residents of the house which collapsed had been warned since 2008. “The occupants of the house that fell had been alerted via memo, that they had to vacate that house due to the state in which it was found.”
She said 85 buildings in deteriorated state have been identified in the Colonial Zone, whose owners aren’t known.
Deadline
The National District City Council issued a Monday, October 24 deadline to the owners of 72 deteriorated buildings to remodel them or risk their expropriation.
Meanwhile Culture Patrimony deputy minister Lourdes Camilo called on the City Council and the National Housing Institute to intervene, to prevent further losses of Colonial Zone structures.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
This is a subject very dear to my heart not only because I live in Zona Colonial but it is of great historical value and is also a very interesting place to live and to visit There are many vacant buildings waiting to be renovated , and the cost is not great . If we take the area as being from Ave Melia all the way down to the malecon and west to Parque Independencia , then most buildings are in reasonable condition but there are some that need urgent attention .if the owners can not be traced , that means that they are not paying the monthly water, power and garbage accounts, each of which has a fixed component , and the properties should be appropriated, and auctioned off with the condition that they are renovated immediately to a set standard .
However the the two most urgent things are the removal of the appalling power lines and the provision of at least two more large parking stations .Then we need Conde to have large shady trees all the way along it and melia as a walk way
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
This week end I propose to do a full inspection myself but I can start with my neighbours home which is in ruins and which I would be happy to buy and renovate to a good standard just to be able to say that I have done my bit and am not just talking
Written by: Yucahu, 21 Oct 2011 11:38 AM
From: United States, Miami
Ricardolito what would be the amount to renew-rehabiliate a Colonial property? I love that area and I think it should be saved and spruced up more. It could really be an even bigger draw for tourism than what it currently is.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
To give you an example , on the corner of Mercedes and 19 de Marzo is a huge single story building that I am sure could be brought into a condition suitable for a large gallery for less than $100000 .The problem is with multi story buildings that need new weight bearing columns and you can see many of these in semi ruins in the north of ZC along Calle A Merino and Calle Isobel la Catolica , from Plaza Espana to the corner of Mella ..
In the house next to me, in ruins, I could probably make a 2 bedroom home with an iron roof for less than $80.000
Written by: DomLon, 21 Oct 2011 12:09 PM
From: United Kingdom
Intersting photo to use - I think that building collapsed about 200 years ago.
Written by: xwill7, 21 Oct 2011 12:17 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
how many truck loads of cement will you need? They need someone that can repair it but keep the old style at the same time
Written by: telemeco, 21 Oct 2011 12:58 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Monte Plata
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
My renovations were all done with cement purchased in bags plus the sand and lime..I am not sure why and yes the external style is not permitted to be altered ,,with some slight exceptions but internally you can make two small rooms into one large room and similar changes without problems .
Of the grander buildings the strength and the size of the walls vary from home to home but most now have some sort of render on them to prevent water penetration ,,the building anyone can see near the corner of Mercedes and 19 de Marzo has very thick walls that need only cosmetic work but the roof and window openings need much attention ..Many of the large buildings need urgent attention but much is not big work ..as most know here ,,,there is no belief in the phrase that ..a stich in time saves nine.
Written by: Atabey, 21 Oct 2011 2:10 PM
From: United States, NYC
This Colonial Zone is a very interesting area and one that DR should do everything possible to bring up to par with similar Colonial areas in the Caribbean. I agree with Ricardolito that something drastic needs to happen, and that owners who for whatever reason refuse to upgrade and fix dilapidated houses, have fines and possible use of EMINENT DOMAIN by the State.
This area should be a jewel that serves to entice tourists and offer an historical connection to the past.
From: United States
The historical value of those building alones is priceless they simply can't be replaced, something has to he done. Leo loves to build hotels and tunnels,he should start here first!
Written by: raulm, 21 Oct 2011 3:31 PM
From: United States
still waiting for your comment anthony c. i hope you or your love ones were not injured.
Written by: raulm, 21 Oct 2011 3:31 PM
From: United States
still waiting for your comment anthony c.
From: United States
i will make anthonyc´s comment for him. the houses belong to owners, and the owners should have the right to decide whether or not they want to refurbish them.
Written by: curios1, 21 Oct 2011 7:41 PM
From: United States, right where im standin
i like the zona colonial. someday i will probably be a part of it.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
Yes Dreadlocks ,,but when the owners are unknown and no one has paid the garbage , water and power bills for years and when the walls are likely to fall onto the streets , then I believe the council must serve notice to make essential renovations,,
Written by: Grosero, 22 Oct 2011 7:43 AM
From: United States
Colonial Zone is the best place to get robbed! I'll stay in Hanni
From: United States
Ricardolito, my response was made tongue in cheek. if i were president, i would seize any property in a historical zone which devalued the significance of the area.
Written by: Atabey, 23 Oct 2011 12:26 PM
From: United States, NYC
"i would seize any property in a historical zone which devalued the significance of the area."
The first order should NOT be seizure BUT an accurate accounting of Property Ownership FOLLOWED by the required checking for PAYMENTS for all the services, water, electricity, garbage removal, etc., If after all these measures are taken and the owner REFUSES to make amends, then an order of EMINENT DOMAIN should follow, with back payment deducted from the price given to the owner.
The Rule of Law is, after all, an important consideration in these issues. LOL
From: United States
why, thank you , counsellor. Hofstra, or Harvard Law School?
Written by: Atabey, 23 Oct 2011 2:50 PM
From: United States, NYC
Just keeping you in Line, Dready. Some Dominicans want things ordered a bit more carefully than in Jamaica. LOL
From: United States
i see the order here. it shows, every day.
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However the the two most urgent things are the removal of the appalling power lines and the provision of at least two more large parking stations .Then we need Conde to have large shady trees all the way along it and melia as a walk way
In the house next to me, in ruins, I could probably make a 2 bedroom home with an iron roof for less than $80.000
This a picture of a Ginza in Sasebo Japan, the whole street is cover from the Sun. 1.2 km
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Locati....ture_Kyushu_Okinawa.html#23710490
Of the grander buildings the strength and the size of the walls vary from home to home but most now have some sort of render on them to prevent water penetration ,,the building anyone can see near the corner of Mercedes and 19 de Marzo has very thick walls that need only cosmetic work but the roof and window openings need much attention ..Many of the large buildings need urgent attention but much is not big work ..as most know here ,,,there is no belief in the phrase that ..a stich in time saves nine.
This area should be a jewel that serves to entice tourists and offer an historical connection to the past.
The first order should NOT be seizure BUT an accurate accounting of Property Ownership FOLLOWED by the required checking for PAYMENTS for all the services, water, electricity, garbage removal, etc., If after all these measures are taken and the owner REFUSES to make amends, then an order of EMINENT DOMAIN should follow, with back payment deducted from the price given to the owner.
The Rule of Law is, after all, an important consideration in these issues. LOL