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Mercado Modelo Renovation Advances in Dominican Republic
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic /Environment & Climate

Mercado Modelo Renovation Advances in Dominican Republic

From Diario Libre · (9h ago) Spanish Positive tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Mercado Modelo in the Dominican Republic has completed the first phase of its renovation, a project costing 45 million pesos.
  • The renovation included structural strengthening, waterproofing, and a modern electrical system, addressing years of deterioration.
  • Merchants and visitors express satisfaction with the improvements, citing increased safety and functionality.

The Mercado Modelo, a historic landmark in the Dominican Republic's Colonial City, has undergone significant revitalization, marking a crucial step in the Integral Program for Tourist and Urban Development. This project, a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has successfully completed its initial phase, breathing new life into a structure that has long been a source of concern for local merchants.

The 45 million peso investment has focused on critical structural repairs, including comprehensive waterproofing of the roof and central dome to combat the severe water damage that plagued the building. The aging electrical system has been completely modernized, with individual module distribution for each merchant and the installation of an emergency power plant, significantly enhancing safety and reliability. These upgrades are not merely cosmetic; they address the fundamental issues that have hampered the market's functionality and safety for years.

The roof was completely permeable, which caused rain to enter and generated a significant structural risk. We proceeded to waterproof the entire roof, including the central vault and the flat roofs, thus stopping the advance of the damage.

— Wilfredo FélizWilfredo Féliz, coordinator of the Mercado Modelo component within the program, explaining the urgency and scope of the waterproofing work.

Merchants, who have long awaited these improvements, now express profound satisfaction. The restoration has not only improved the market's aesthetic appeal and structural integrity but has also dramatically increased safety. Incidents of electrical fires, once a frequent problem due to faulty wiring, are now a thing of the past. This transformation ensures that both vendors and visitors can experience the Mercado Modelo with greater peace of mind, reinforcing its role as a vibrant hub for commerce and culture in Santo Domingo.

Before, there were frequent fire outbreaks due to irregular electrical connections; today, that situation is in the past, and both merchants and visitors feel safer.

— Anastacio OzoriaAnastacio Ozoria, administrator of the Mercado Modelo, highlighting the improved safety due to the new electrical system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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