Colonial City of Santo Domingo

• Undefined and unregulated buffer zone leading to urban development pressure and inadequate control of land use;
• Pressures derived from tourism;
• Inadequate and inefficient management and conservation arrangements (including legislation, regulatory measures, technical capacity for conservation and service infrastructure);
• Lack of interpretation and presentation of the property;
• Natural vulnerability to earthquakes and hurricanes;
• Deterioration of historic structures derived from natural and social factors (including environmental pollution and lack of sensitisation of local residents);
• SANSOUCI Urban development project.

As requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report on 1 February 2013.

a)  Sansouci project

The State Party reports that, in consideration of the recommendations made by the 2009 reactive monitoring mission and by the technical review of the project proposal, the Ministry of Culture has undertaken an assessment of the view shed from the Colonial City to the area of proposed development for the Sansouci project. The assessment will allow evaluating clearly the potential impact on the inscribed property. The report includes simulations of the four analysed view sheds. In these simulations, the potential impact from the project proposal for development on the existing view sheds between the Colonial City and the Ozama River and its left bank are evidenced.

b)  Definition of height regulations and buffer zone for Santo Domingo East

The State Party reports that the Ministry of Culture has requested the Municipality of Santo Domingo East about the progress made in the definition of the buffer zone for the east of the Colonial City. Documentation was received by the World Heritage Centre in July 2012 and included a topographic survey, the existing land use and construction heights at the predetermined and neighbouring zones. No information is provided on whether regulations have been formulated and adopted for the area or a timeframe for completing the establishment of the buffer zone at this sector. The State Party also reports that until 2012, no project that could have a negative visual impact on the Colonial City has been implemented at the Santo Domingo East area.

c)  New Law for the protection, safeguarding and development of cultural heritage and regulations for archaeological investigations

The State Party reports that in April 2012, the draft Law for the protection, safeguarding and development of cultural heritage was submitted to the Office of the Legal Council of the Executive Power. Comments are still pending given the change of governmental administration in August 2012. In regard to the regulations for archaeological investigations, the Office of the Legal Council of the Executive Power recommended the revision, prior to the approval, of Law 41-00, which set up the Ministry of Culture according to the new provisions of the Constitution of the Republic, proclaimed in January 2010. No timeframe for when the new law and the regulations might be passed for enforcement has been provided.

d)  Strategic Plan for the Integral Revitalization of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo

The State Party reports that in June 2012, the Tourism Ministry started the implementation of the Programme for the promotion of tourism at the Colonial City, which is based on the Strategic Plan for the Integral Revitalization of the Colonial City. The programme, financed by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has a USD 30 million budget and will cover three main components: development of the touristic offer, the integration of the local population in the development of tourism and the strengthening of tourism management. A consultant has been contracted for the project design for the holistic renovation of the most emblematic streets of the Colonial City. No additional information is provided on whether the Strategic Plan has been formally approved or whether additional resources have been secured for its sustained implementation.

e)  Management of the property

The review of regulations regarding the Steering Committee for the Colonial City of Santo Domingo by the new national authorities is pending. No timeframe for when the management entity is expected to be fully operational has been provided.

The State Party has included Ordinance 03-2011 adopted by the Municipality of the National District on 23 May 2011 which approves the zoning regulations for land use and for interventions at the Colonial City. The ordinance also includes the definition of the buffer zone in its jurisdiction. Additional Ordinances by the same municipality concern management of solid waste and circulation of heavy weight vehicles at the Colonial City.

f)  Other issues

The State Party also reports on additional projects that have been implemented. These include the renovation of infrastructure for water supply, sewage and drainage for rain water at the Santa Barbara quarter. Work on streets and public spaces at the same quarter are also foreseen for 2013. The pilot plan ReViMe has also started in coordination with the cities of Habana and Port au Prince to raise awareness on the issue of recycling for historic cities. The construction of a vertical garden in El Conde Street and the first edition of Santo Domingo Colonial Fest in October 2012 were also mentioned in the report.

The State Party reports also on the project of a subway line through the Colonial City. Soil analysis was carried out in July 2012 to assess the feasibility of constructing Line 3 of the Santo Domingo subway, which would have an extension of 3.2 km. If constructed, stations are foreseen at three locations at the Colonial City: Parque Independencia, Parque Colon (nearby the cathedral) and at Plaza de España, nearby the Alcazar de Colon. The State Party indicates that the project is currently under study and only the potential route was included in the report.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that the visual relationship between the Colonial City, the Ozama River and its left bank and the sea is an essential component of the property. If the Sansouci development were to occur at the proposed area, alternative designs would be needed that take into account the results from the visual studies carried out as well as the existing scale of the property.

They also consider that the approval of Municipal Ordinances to regulate zoning and land use is a crucial step in ensuring the conservation and protection of the property. They would recommend that the Committee reiterate the importance of having an operational management system in place to ensure consistent decision-making, avoid duplication of mandates and enhance synergies between the different agencies currently implementing projects.