SANTO DOMINGO – Seven years have passed since the interventions began in the Colonial City, under the promise of a comprehensive transformation that would turn it into a world-renowned destination for cultural tourism. Seven years of closed streets, constant dust, hammers at dawn, makeshift detours, blocked access points, and lost sales. As of June 2025, the project is still not finished.
The Comprehensive Program for Tourism and Urban Development of the Colonial City (PIDTUCC) —financed with more than 90 million dollars from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through loan 3879/OC-DR— presents undeniable progress, but also a long wait that has tested the patience of merchants, residents and visitors.
The promise remains: to restore the luster to this Caribbean jewel, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and transform it into a world-class destination. However, implementation has been slow.
What is the PIDTUCC?
The PIDTUCC is an ambitious urban and tourism intervention plan initiated in 2018, whose goal is to revitalize the first city in America, known as the Colonial City, respecting its heritage value, improving the quality of life of its residents and promoting its offer as a cultural tourism destination.
The program has four central pillars:
- Urban and historical restoration (streets, monuments, public spaces).
- Housing improvements for vulnerable families.
- Strengthening the local economy and small businesses.
- Sustainable cultural and tourism management.
What has been done so far?
By mid-2025, the PIDTUCC reported 70% progress . Some of the tangible achievements include:
- Las Mercedes Street: Restored with new paving stones, LED lighting, and underground cables.
- Salomé Ureña Street: Renovated with accessible sidewalks, benches and improved storm drainage.
- Calle Las Damas: Heritage restoration combined with adaptations for visitors.
Basic infrastructure , such as sewage systems, sidewalks and public services, has also been improved , and several squares and parks have been beautified.
However, at least 3 kilometers of secondary roads in areas such as San Antón, Santa Bárbara, San Lázaro and part of Isabel la Católica Avenue, where open streets and ongoing construction projects persist.
Although progress has been made in the restoration of key monuments —such as the Fortress of Santo Domingo, the Ruins of San Francisco, and the Alcázar de Colón—the work is not yet complete. These are complex conservation processes that require several stages.
In terms of housing , some 140 houses have been rehabilitated in neighborhoods such as San Antón, Santa Bárbara, and San Miguel, prioritizing female heads of household. However, there are still families waiting to be included in the program, and some areas show signs of neglect or deterioration that have not yet been addressed.
The road network is 38% complete, and work has been completed on a total of 2,400 meters of main streets.
Street / Area Progress Status
Las Damas 100% complete
Salomé Ureña 100% complete
Las Mercedes 95% (1 corner missing)
Padre Billini 100% complete
Arzobispo Nouel 28%
Hostos 28–35%
Luperón 10%
Parques Duarte, Billini Under construction
Responsible entities
The success (and the slowness) of the program is in the hands of a set of institutions:
- Ministry of Tourism (MITUR): Coordinates the project and its tourism vision.
- Ministry of Culture (MINC): Ensures that heritage value is respected.
- Executive Committee for Infrastructure in Tourist Areas (CEIZTUR): Directs the execution of works.
- National District Mayor's Office: Manages the relationship with residents.
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): Provides financing and technical monitoring.
And what does the community say?
The community has an ambivalent relationship with the project. Merchants and residents acknowledge the progress, but also express weariness and frustration.
In a report by Listín Diario (May 12, 2025), merchants on El Conde Street described the combination of traffic restrictions and unfinished construction as “chaotic.” They stated that sales have declined and that not enough has been done to protect the local economy during the construction work.
Other media outlets such as 7 Días and Rosemary News have reported similar concerns, despite cultural initiatives such as Turizoneando, which have sought to revitalize the area on weekends.
Development is underway, but slow
The PIDTUCC project also includes supporting small businesses, training residents in tourism services, and positioning the Mercado Modelo as a modernized commercial space. These programs are underway, but their full impact has not yet been realized.
It is also projected that 9% of tourists arriving in the country will visit the Colonial City once the project is completed, which would imply a considerable increase in visits and spending. However, this scenario depends on the works being finished on time and the area's safety and accessibility being maintained.
When will it end?
The official completion date is the end of 2025, although technical and community sectors estimate that it could extend until the beginning of 2026, especially if the complementary work that has not yet begun, such as subsequent maintenance, ornamental lighting and tourist signage, is taken into account.
Although there is progress to celebrate—beautiful streets, restored facades, cleaner and safer spaces— the transformation is still incomplete. Neglected areas persist, homes remain unfinished, and the community, while hopeful, needs to see the promises it has been hearing for almost a decade fulfilled.
A heart that beats, but wants to breathe
The Colonial City of Santo Domingo remains a unique space in the Caribbean and the Americas. Its walls, plazas, and streets hold history, rhythm, and warmth. But they also hold a vibrant present.
The PIDTUCC represents a unique opportunity to elevate this heritage to a new level of development and community life. But this opportunity will only materialize if the authorities meet the deadlines, listen to the community, and ensure that the benefits are tangible and shared.
After seven years of sacrifices, what the Colonial City needs is not only for the works to be finished, but for its right to be fully restored to life and enjoyment.
