Santo Domingo.- Business and community leaders, local representatives and government officials will work jointly to recover and revitalize Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, stimulate its economy, increase job opportunities and efficiently use the funds it receives from its Heritage of Humanity status, listin.com.do, almomento.net and diariolibre.com report.
In a press conference yesterday, the representatives of the Ciudad de Ovando Association, the Colonial City’s Union of Neighborhood Boards, the Interior and Police Ministry and the Tourism Police (Politur) unveiled the agreement, and includes the installation of subsoil electricity and phone lines, a natural gas grid, the opening of museums at night and extend the hours in which clubs and bars can open to 3 a.m.
Association president Louis Brocker and its vice president Lisandro Macarrulla said security cameras under Politur’s control would also be installed.
Though the total amount wasn’t specifed, it was learned that one of the projects will cost US$50 million and the security cameras will cost US$3 million.
The international consulting company Lombardi & Asociados elaborates the "Integral Revitalization Plan for Santo Domingo’s Colonial City,” an technical cooperation agreement.
Crime and the neighborhood
Neighborhood Boards Union president Mercedes Coste called the plan satisfactory.
The community leader denied reports of increasing crime, and attributed the information to the fact that it’s a zone for tourists, and its problems are magnified.
But diariolibre.com adds that tour guides and vendors of the area affirmed that criminals even operate at noon, when Politur agents aren’t around.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Great!
When do we start?
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
this will all end when the new elected president takes office.
Written by: Atabey, 13 Apr 2011 10:42 AM
From: United States, NYC
"the Tourism Police (Politur) unveiled the agreement, and includes the installation of subsoil electricity and phone lines, a natural gas grid, the opening of museums at night and extend the hours in which clubs and bars can open to 3 a.m."
Great news! Especially the subsoil electrical and phone lines. All those wires make a poor impression.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Atabey
Imagine the mess when they start the digging!
Everybody on pasolas mientras tanto.
Written by: anthonyC, 13 Apr 2011 11:42 AM
From: United States
About every 4 years they decide to revitalize the Colonial Zone. They dig up some streets and then the politically connected and Gov. Bureaucrats line their pockets
Written by: DomLon, 13 Apr 2011 11:55 AM
From: United Kingdom
"the opening of museums at night".- bit of a gimick - who will go at night.
Better surely to open up the churches during the day - there are some beautiful interiors which many tourists never see. They should though maintain a strict ban on beach wear in churches.
Written by: danny00, 13 Apr 2011 12:06 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
last time i was in the Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, their where many ladies of the night, lots of tourists police. who where busy chatting with any young lady that happen to walk by., not much else that was of interest.,
Written by: martin, 13 Apr 2011 12:24 PM
From: United States, boston to S.P.M 23
here comes the negative anti DR talks ---- anyway thise is good i really hope 2 see zona colonial lookin nice al the time and al businesses runnin good
Written by: ElChico, 13 Apr 2011 12:29 PM
From: United States
Puerto Plata colonial zone needs it a lot more...
From: Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic
Burying the power and phone lines will make the area much more attractive. The Colonial Zone is a great attraction but needs this kind of attention. I hope they follow through.
Written by: danny00, 13 Apr 2011 12:55 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
here comes the negative anti dr talks ---- , sorry mucho..
guess i need to speak the truth, their where no ladies of the night, and the tourists police where busy doing their job taking care of the so-called tourists.
the zone is one wonderful place to vist, iam going to push this with my gringo friends in florida. thats its a must see for them, its worth the trip.
again sorry about the negative thoughts.
thought just maybe if a enough people told the truth, which sometimes includes having to say negative things, then just maybe the government would react to the peoples needs and wishes and really do some thing
but i guess iam just one solo negative guy.
Written by: ciber, 13 Apr 2011 12:56 PM
From: United States
10 or more years ago they tore up Isabel La Catolica for 6 months putting in tubing to place wiring under ground. Nothing happened except putting in the tubing and now guess WHAT they made no drawings of where the tubing is. I guess they will do the same again. AS for the iron BALLS they are great fro damaging car doors and the tourist have great fun stumbling over them. Great to see so much money spent on them. The woman in charge is making lots. Same same as they say in the orient!
From: United States
@ Danny00
You said : "guess i need to speak the truth, their where no ladies of the night, and the tourists police where busy doing their job taking care of the so-called tourists.
the zone is one wonderful place to vist, iam going to push this with my gringo friends in florida. thats its a must see for them, its worth the trip"
Shouldn't you be pushing your gringo friends to go Port o Prince or something?
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
Firstly , it has to be remembered that the overwhelming number of buildings in zona colonial are residential so if zona colonial is to be revitalised then all these planners will need help from the residents ,The museums and the churches and the restuarants are only a small percentage of the buildings ,
The biggest need by miles is parking as not many homes have garages or parking spaces and there is never enough space on the streets . If there is parking , there will be more visitors and rentals
Then , I , personally think the best way to get things going is to offer incentives to property owners and then they may renovate the old buildings .
There have been so many poor decisions in the past .For example Conde has some iron lamps in the middle but the street is boiling hot most fo the year and it would have been far better to plant a long stretch of shade trees in the centre of Conde .
There are some streets where many homes have been renovated and the result is stunning
Written by: sbostian, 13 Apr 2011 6:24 PM
From: Dominican Republic
hope the consultants can convince the stakeholders to take some hints from some successful colonial districts like Williamsburg VA that have discovered the win-win combination of attracting tourist dollars and preserving history at the same time. It takes sacrifices of the residents and building owners - such as NO CARS ON THE STREETS (yes, that means walking district only) and LOSS OF CONTROL over renovations of buildings in order to be true to preservation standards.
yes, and they may even have to kick out the prostitutes and drug dealers as much as that would disappoint and offend a small minority of the tourists.
Written by: curios1, 13 Apr 2011 6:46 PM
From: United States, right where im standin
of all the places i have been the zona colonial has captured my atention the most. it has a flavor and an atraction just the way it is. especialy my hotel of the world.
From: Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic
Most important thing is to get traffic and parking under control and make it a good place for pedestrians.
Written by: Atabey, 13 Apr 2011 7:29 PM
From: United States, NYC
Sbostian has it about right. MAKE IT PEDESTRIAN ONLY with some early morning delivery for stores, etc. From 4-7 AM.
Written by: TRICKY1, 13 Apr 2011 9:04 PM
From: Australia
Yep went to el Zona Colonial in 2010 thought it was great as an Aussie didn't seem dangerous had a nice time walking down all the great little streets the buildings were amazing and the people were friendly.l didn't make it to Boca Chica probably just as well judging by reports again the government needs to be changed.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
You can not make all the streets pedestrian only ..home owners have to be able to get to their homes but it would be great to have parking on just one side of a street
Written by: frank, 14 Apr 2011 2:51 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Caberete, Norway, USA
Hum, i don't know where to begin. i just came back from the zone on monday after staying the weekend. i stayed at La Palacio hotel on Duarte. i was there 2 weeks before that and stayed there as well. love the place. but, like many have already mentioned here, it needs a few critical changes. one thing is that the Conde smells heavily of Urine. Heavily! Also, the Conde (Main Street) is dirty and reminds me of 42nd street in the 70's and early 80's. it needs a good washing on at least a weekly basis. the side streets, particulary around the surrounding fortress walls is littered with plastics and trash and human excrement--particulary around the part of the wall facing the large bridge thats crosses the river ( i can't think of the street or bridge?) it has cannons at the top. some of the side streets also smell heavily of urine, and many of the businesses along the conde have this rusting, ugly, pull down corrugated steel doors that look like crap. shame. the street lights at night--
Written by: frank, 14 Apr 2011 3:00 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Caberete, Norway, USA
however, look fantastic and give off this nice yellow light--kind of reminds me of London at night. Segafredo at the end of conde is beautiful and always full of people at night and has a really nice atmosphere and vibe. love the place. Pato Palo and the surrounding restaurants on each side of it--across the court yard from Colon house (Can't remember the real name) has a wonderful eclectic vibe and is always full of people eating and enjoying themselves. wonderful atmosphere. still, some of the side streets need a good scrubbing and the place, at least many of the empty, boarded up buildings, looks like a movie set from the 1940's, i.e "On the Waterfront." still, the place needs a good scrubbing to attract tourists and the part of the zone on the malecon, facing the ocean--where the strip clubs are located--is atrocious at best, and horrendous looking. for about three blocks--particulary around the strip club "baby dolls" or something like that, looks like WWII. the buildings are--
Written by: frank, 14 Apr 2011 3:09 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Caberete, Norway, USA
falling apart & many of them are just empty shells that look like hell. one would think that this part of the zone--facing the malecon--would have the most property value and hence, be the first one's re-built but, i'm sure there is a good reason why no real-estate investor hasn't touched it yet. shame. it looks much like it did 25 years ago; that's perplexing. also, many of the houses are nothing more than glorified shacks with ugly iron bars across both the windows and front doors--they look horrendous. it reminds me of parts of Puerto Plata & the Bronx; it certainly doens't look like the Colonial Zone that one envisions. i'm sure this will dramatically change one day but, unfortunately, i doubt it will change dramatically in my lifetime. but again, there must be a reason why real estate developers haven't pounced and bought up the empty shells of buildings lining the Malecon and Conde. some of the shops on Conde look like downtown Bonao 25 years ago. everything from the cheap shoe--
Written by: frank, 14 Apr 2011 3:16 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Caberete, Norway, USA
stores to the tacky nick-knacks, cheap paintings, & plastic jewellary that line the sidewalk on both sides of the Conde give it a 1975 42nd St. feeling. the only thing lacking are the porn booths & theatres. i mean really, Conde is atrocious looking in the the day--when the sun is shining on dirty storefront windows, to the night when all of the corrugated rusty steel shutters are pulled down. it just reeks of early 70's in New York, only more tacky, more cheap, and terrible smells. there are no large trash cans!! and the few remaining are spilling over! however, i know it will change for the better someday. that's a given. there's just too much potential here too ignore. but if i was one of those cruise ship passengers walking up the conde--which they do everyday in groups--i would be horrified by first--the smell of urine, and secondly, by the sight of all the cheap stores, merchandise, & vendors selling cheap, plastic jewellary and ugly paintings. it's a terrible blemish on an--
Written by: frank, 14 Apr 2011 3:45 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Caberete, Norway, USA
otherwise beautiful place. Yes, i love the place. i've been visiting the colonial zone most of my life, and i would love to live there someday in something that's been re-modeled and renovated on the inside but has maintained the rustic, old world vibe on the outside. many people have pulled it off beautifully and when you walk past and peek inside some of these places you see how beautifully restored they are on the inside. they're amazing: On the outside--they have carved four-foot thick coral & brick walls with huge sculptured metal bars on the windows, and beautiful dark-stained mahagony/oak doors for the entrance, and completely modern interiors. this is the way the colonial zone was meant to look like; this is the colonial zone tourists pay big money to come and see from half way around the world; this is the colonial zone that makes dominicans proud of their heritage, architecture and history.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
sorry about the impression of Conde but if you walked there most mornings at between 8 and 9 ,you would see the truck with the pressurised water cleaning the street .. I am in Conde every week at the Jumbo express and have not noticed the urine smell .
As for development , there are at least 100 homes and offices that have been renovated including mine , but the reason people do not buy there I think is to do with parking ..also the houses are not cheap .
Written by: sbostian, 14 Apr 2011 9:16 AM
From: Dominican Republic
it IS possible to make it pedestrian only - it's a small area (I know a lot of dominicans don't like to walk, but from a gringo perspective, it's a very small area to walk) all that is needed is a large and secure parking garage or two just on the outskirts of the zone. to make it easier to swallow, the city could offer shuttles via electric golf carts (large resorts have some bigger ones that hold more than just 3 passengers). PLUS when you don't have the danger of crazy drivers, then BICYCLES once again become a viable option. I could be from one end of the Zona to the other in 3 minutes in a bike. I like the idea of having a schedule when you let delivery trucks into the zone to serve the businesses.
Written by: ciber, 14 Apr 2011 9:33 AM
From: United States
The above idea of trees in el conde would not be allowed by the BALL lady. She made all establishments remove outside plants and she cut down 100 year old caoba trees in the Duarte park. She also painted over the beautiful stone building on the corner of conde and merino [the one with the non working clock] . She who plants all the iron balls along the streets also started to paint the First Catholic building in the new world. Some one STOPPED that [ I wonder who ] I can see it now millions of iron balls lining all the streets. She must be short on iron to melt down so she has the drain covers stolen to supply more balls. I wonder what she will think up next. She will make millions planting BALLS. This may start a new world trend. What would park avenue look like lined with her iron balls.
Written by: RoyStone, 14 Apr 2011 9:41 AM
From: Australia
Museums? Where? I'd love to visit them, day or night.
Frank and sbostian - some very honest observations and good suggestions - thanks! I hope someone takes notice, but I'm not holding my breath.
Written by: RoyStone, 14 Apr 2011 9:48 AM
From: Australia
I was expecting the Colonial Zone to be just that - a Colonial Zone, with old houses, public buildings, churches and cathedrals. Big displays with charts, drawings and replicas from historic events - maybe a replica of Colombus' ships, people dressed up and acting the part of historic characters, etc. etc.
The cheep crappy souvenirs could be sold elsewhere, or restricted to one small part, along with Pizza Hut, etc.
From: United States, Omnipresence
All this talk of "IRON BALLS" has some scrotal undertones to this.....I'd say "sack" this whole ball thing.
Written by: RoyStone, 14 Apr 2011 7:58 PM
From: Australia
ciber,
who is the lady with balls? The last British lady with balls, declared war on Argentina. Maybe if DR gets a lady with balls (Mrs Leo?) then she will declare war on Haiti?
Written by: RoyStone, 14 Apr 2011 8:04 PM
From: Australia
Frank said
"this is the way the colonial zone was meant to look like"
Exactly!
This is what I was hoping to see in the Colonial Zone, but found very little.
As far as booting out the prostitutes, I agree.
Most cosmopolitan international cities have a dedicated red-light district, and make it a feature. If that's your thing you can find it, and if not you can avoid it. Maybe near SD's Cabana district would be appropriate? First time I saw it, I thought it was SD's answer to Las Vegas!
From: United States, Omnipresence
Yeah I admit I kinda went overboard with the lights.....but it's a great attention getter!
Written by: Trujillo, 18 Apr 2011 7:15 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Underground parking and a subway station..
From: United States, Omnipresence
NUTS! or dare I say...."BALLS?"
Written by: Louis, 9 May 2011 4:30 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Thank you all for the comments, very positive
Louis Brocker
please follow us at: facebook, Asociación Ciudad Ovando
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When do we start?
Great news! Especially the subsoil electrical and phone lines. All those wires make a poor impression.
Imagine the mess when they start the digging!
Everybody on pasolas mientras tanto.
Better surely to open up the churches during the day - there are some beautiful interiors which many tourists never see. They should though maintain a strict ban on beach wear in churches.
guess i need to speak the truth, their where no ladies of the night, and the tourists police where busy doing their job taking care of the so-called tourists.
the zone is one wonderful place to vist, iam going to push this with my gringo friends in florida. thats its a must see for them, its worth the trip.
again sorry about the negative thoughts.
thought just maybe if a enough people told the truth, which sometimes includes having to say negative things, then just maybe the government would react to the peoples needs and wishes and really do some thing
but i guess iam just one solo negative guy.
You said : "guess i need to speak the truth, their where no ladies of the night, and the tourists police where busy doing their job taking care of the so-called tourists.
the zone is one wonderful place to vist, iam going to push this with my gringo friends in florida. thats its a must see for them, its worth the trip"
Shouldn't you be pushing your gringo friends to go Port o Prince or something?
The biggest need by miles is parking as not many homes have garages or parking spaces and there is never enough space on the streets . If there is parking , there will be more visitors and rentals
Then , I , personally think the best way to get things going is to offer incentives to property owners and then they may renovate the old buildings .
There have been so many poor decisions in the past .For example Conde has some iron lamps in the middle but the street is boiling hot most fo the year and it would have been far better to plant a long stretch of shade trees in the centre of Conde .
There are some streets where many homes have been renovated and the result is stunning
yes, and they may even have to kick out the prostitutes and drug dealers as much as that would disappoint and offend a small minority of the tourists.
As for development , there are at least 100 homes and offices that have been renovated including mine , but the reason people do not buy there I think is to do with parking ..also the houses are not cheap .
Frank and sbostian - some very honest observations and good suggestions - thanks! I hope someone takes notice, but I'm not holding my breath.
The cheep crappy souvenirs could be sold elsewhere, or restricted to one small part, along with Pizza Hut, etc.
who is the lady with balls? The last British lady with balls, declared war on Argentina. Maybe if DR gets a lady with balls (Mrs Leo?) then she will declare war on Haiti?
"this is the way the colonial zone was meant to look like"
Exactly!
This is what I was hoping to see in the Colonial Zone, but found very little.
As far as booting out the prostitutes, I agree.
Most cosmopolitan international cities have a dedicated red-light district, and make it a feature. If that's your thing you can find it, and if not you can avoid it. Maybe near SD's Cabana district would be appropriate? First time I saw it, I thought it was SD's answer to Las Vegas!
Louis Brocker
please follow us at: facebook, Asociación Ciudad Ovando