By Architect Yermys Pena
@yermyspena
www.yermyspena.com
One of the UN's goals is for cities to be inclusive, sustainable, and safe. However, this will depend on the proper management of urban growth, ensuring that the design, planning, and urban development of the coming years transform current cities into models that prioritize environmental protection and improve the quality of life for their inhabitants, thus fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Studies show that low-density urban areas are the most polluting, yet densifying cities is more sustainable. Why? Compact cities are more efficient, offer social cohesion, walkability, connectivity, public spaces, and are more inclusive.
This compact land use model is one of the fundamental pillars in the design of more sustainable cities. This pattern results in better outcomes than dispersed or diffuse models in the different areas that make up the city.
The ongoing debate between compact and sprawling cities is a complex issue that can be approached from different angles and generate diverse perspectives. Personally, as an architect, urban planner, builder, and citizen, I advocate for the compact city because it is more aligned with the principles of preserving the environment and the planet. Furthermore, it prioritizes humankind, viewed as inherently social beings. It's not just about living, but about living together, fostering a more inclusive life.
In our city of Santo Domingo, and specifically in the Central Polygon, this area is bordered by John F. Kennedy Avenue, 27 de Febrero Avenue, Ortega y Gasset Avenue, and Winston Churchill Avenue. We are aware that uncontrolled growth and a lack of long-term planning have led to chaos in terms of mobility, access, and other issues. Given the scarcity of public spaces in some areas, including the Central Polygon, it is surprising that new construction projects offering public plazas and significant reductions in building footprints—projects that comply with regulations and have been evaluated and approved by the relevant authorities, taking into account the POT2030 (the comprehensive plan created by the Mayor's Office that establishes the foundation for the planning and management of our city)—receive criticism and rejection, when they clearly represent an oasis in the desert.
We truly wonder if the goal is to live in perpetual opposition or to hijack certain sectors. Economic development, urban growth, and progress are imminent aspects that cannot be halted by absurd and unfounded limitations.
Our city is beginning a process of overcoming bureaucratic limitations, innovating through new urban projects. However, a strong commitment and greater collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector are required to improve our quality of life and create a more sustainable city for future generations.
The author is: an architect, urban planner, and businesswoman.
