By Gissel Taveras
elinmobiliariodo@gmail.com
SANTO DOMINGO.- After suffering from floods for decades in La Vieja Barquita de Los Mina and Sabana Perdida, around 1,782 families received the same number of apartments on June 30, 2016, in a day of joy and hope for those who finally saw a decent home to live in.
Eight years later, and before the clause allowing the original owners to obtain definitive titles expires, some have chosen to sell their homes, even at low cost.
The adaptation was not easy, since going from living without rules of coexistence among garbage, noise, parties late at night, the new residents have also had to follow a series of rules that includes a monthly fee for building maintenance expenses.
To ensure that all the rules are followed, the board of trustees of Nueva Barquita was created, which is headed by Father Gregorio Alegría, who does everything possible to ensure that people are at peace and have what they need to live.
However, apparently this is not enough, as there are opinions both for and against the Board of Trustees; some defend its work, while others complain that the homes were given without imposing any payment (maintenance payments of 1,000 pesos per month).
The truth is that there is a world of difference between where they used to live and where they live now, despite this many have preferred to sell their apartments for up to 300 thousand pesos when they are currently valued at 2.5 million pesos.
But how much did the State invest in this project?
According to the Executive Unit for the Redevelopment of Neighborhoods and Environments (URBE), La Nueva Barquita was one of the most important housing projects of the government of former President Danilo Medina. It was carried out with various investments; the construction of 112 residential and mixed-use buildings (commercial and housing) had a cost of 2.4 billion pesos.
Meanwhile, the public spaces cost 97 million pesos, with a priority of the project being to produce quality spaces, recreational areas and urban facilities suitable for all ages, the elderly, children and people with disabilities.
The landscaping had an investment of 27 million pesos.
The landscape design aimed to create shaded areas, reduce heat islands, provide recreational areas, and offer habitat for wildlife (butterflies and hummingbirds).
According to URBE, for the urban trees, native and fast-growing species were selected (herbaceous and ornamental, medicinal and fruit trees) that were low maintenance and appropriate for urban contexts, as well as being attractive.
169 million pesos were invested in the areas of sports equipment.
The project includes a 7.6-kilometer pedestrian (sports) circuit, a 3-kilometer bike path and a one-kilometer BMX track, a futsal court, five basketball courts and a baseball field.
The social facilities include a multipurpose hall, three community childcare centers, a comprehensive early childhood care center (CAIPI) with capacity for 240 children, and two child and family care centers (CAFI) covering a population of 320 children; a church with capacity for 500 people and a rectory, among other facilities.
The apartments feature a balcony, living room, kitchen, laundry area, pantry, linen closet, and three bedrooms.
The use of color in the different lots breaks the monotony and is inspired by popular architecture in order to approach the color palette currently used in the La Barquita neighborhood, different shades of green, cream and sky blue.
But the investments don't end there; in the area of the aqueduct and drinking water storage, the Government spent 78 million pesos.
This consisted of the installation of a vitrified storage tank with a capacity of 4,600 cubic meters, fed by a battery of three wells and which discharges by gravity to the project's aqueduct.
The sewer system cost 220 million pesos.
The project has three sewage circuits. Wastewater is treated through three filter purification plants, a completely natural purification system that takes advantage of the purifying properties of different types of macrophytes (aquatic and semi-aquatic), which have a high capacity to transfer oxygen to the water.
Likewise, the electrical system had an investment of 131 million pesos, which consists of underground wiring, lighting with low-consumption lamps, a telecommunications system, security cameras and a 911 system.
The final investment cost was 3,122 million pesos, according to URBE and the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED).
