Hoteliers back Hard Rock project, despite zoning violation

Santo Domingo.- The National Hotels and Tourism Association(ASONAHORES) on Tuesday said it supports the Santo Domingo Hard Rock Hotel andCasino project, even though it surpassesheight limits established by zoning for Lincoln Av., in the upscale Nacosector.

ASONAHORES vice president Arturo Villanueva noted that the TourismPromotion Council (Confotur) approved the project, as evidenced by the factthat president Danilo Medina headed groundbreaking.

"It’s a project that the President attended theopening of its construction, and it’s a project which deserves our support, andwe understand that it complies with all Confotur requirements, and on height,"Villanueva said.

As recent as twoweeks ago, the project only had a permit to "excavate and transport debris"and was in the environmental assessment phase, for final authorization for constructionand operation.

Quoted by diariolibre.com.do, the hotelier said ASONAHORES supportsthe construction of the hotel, "regardless of not complying with the height,”adding that it "meets all the requirements."

Diario Libre reports that it tried to contact the contractorConstructora del Pais (Codelpa), and the Santo Domingo Hotel Association, “butit was not possible.”