It invites builders and investors to explore business opportunities in that area
SANTO DOMINGO – “Many people still see the municipality of Santo Domingo Este as just that side. They see it as a neighborhood, not as a city,” says architect Angel Sosa, director of Urban Planning for the municipality, who highlighted the potential and advantages offered by the eastern part of the capital, the most populated area in the country.
“He invited builders and investors to see it as a city. Because when you see it as a city, you can invest better. When you see it as a city, you see the business opportunities,” the expert explained while participating in the panel “Urban Development of Cities in the Dominican Republic,” during the 8th National Housing Roundtable, held last week by the Association of Housing Builders and Developers (Acoprovi).
Sosa stated that the municipality currently has around 11 industrial parks and approximately 15,000 homes under construction. He also mentioned the two airports, highlighting that the main airport for Dominican travelers is located there.
“This is the only municipality located directly on the sun's path. It's one of the most important from a georeferenced point of view. We have, for example, two airports; the main airport is right here. It also has two megaports: a tourist megaport and the Punta Caucedo megaport. This means that, from a strategic point of view, geographically speaking, it's one of the municipalities with the greatest potential for growth.”.
For the reasons stated above, the architect believes that this district needs infrastructure to solve the municipality's problems, arguing that "we need to help decongest the National District, both in terms of services and infrastructure. Other cities and municipalities need to be developed so that people don't have to travel.".
Polycentric city
That's why Sosa advocates for the development of a polycentric city, one that has all the services necessary for people to solve their basic problems without having to travel to another city, because this guarantees traffic relief. "All of this helps to integrate that mobility," he says.
He asserts that 33% of his students at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) reside in the province of Santo Domingo. “If we have an extension campus of the UASD, that 33% of the population that currently travels to the District will stop going.”.
He adds that if they also have services like passports, public works, and all the ministries, people will stop coming to the National District. “Therefore, I believe that the concept of decentralization should focus more on urban infrastructure.”.
He said that his presentation aimed to promote business opportunities, which—he emphasized—must go hand in hand with social responsibility. “We all have a social responsibility.”.
Regulating the territory is a priority
For architect Angel Sosa, regulating the territory is a priority because it establishes clear development policies for cities.
"And today, community members, for example, neighborhood associations, are the main inspectors we have and are the main watchdogs of the development processes.".
In that sense, he considers it a collective challenge to focus on the importance of regulating territories and establishing clear rules about what can and cannot be developed.
“Here, where there are many investors, having that clear scheme will allow you to carry out your pre-feasibility studies, your appropriate economic studies, the same boards, in those participations that we have always had, to be able to look at a regulatory framework that is in accordance with the needs of the city.”.
Sosa understands that the current situation offers an opportunity for this, where the central government, together with the mayoral administrations, in the case of the National District, have been working hand in hand and oriented in the same direction for the urban development of the country's cities.
“I have always said that the city is quality of life. The city is a place where people feel happy. If people don't feel happy, then there is no attachment to their city,” the speaker stated.
Plenary
The urban development plan of the 8th National Housing Roundtable, "Vision 2030 Urban Development of Cities in the Dominican Republic: National District and Santo Domingo East, current situation,
challenges and opportunities," included, in addition to Sosa, the participation of architect Mayobanex Suazo, director of Urban Planning, of the Mayor's Office of the National District; and as moderator, architect Jorge Montalvo, former president of ACOPROVI, attended.
Cover photo: Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario.
