Sosua Beach closing for renovations - the vendors have to go now

Like he said they have known this was coming!  Clearly the police etc were expecting problems!  I've not seen any official announcements about anything yet.

Hi Planner, my wife and I finally booked a trip to the North Coast for October; Sosua Beach was high on our list of places to check out and spend some time at. What is the story about this shut down? Apparently, this was in the making. Does it have something to do with perhaps some vendors running their bars illegally? Just curious to know if you or anyone else have any insights and if there is a chance it'll be up and running again in a couple of weeks. Can't imagine a popular beach like this being shut down for long. What does 'renovating the beach' mean? Any insights would be appreciated.

They have been talking about the reno of the beach since I bought property 5 yeas again, so now the day has come, this is no overnight or couple of week fix... it going to be months.  Sad day

None of the bars on Sosua Beach have title to the land they are on. Either they were squatting on private property or within the 60 meter public owned space from the water.

It will not be "up and running" in a couple of weeks according to any indications I have seen. The government plans includes three new plazas and that will take many months to build. Then they will have to get business owners that can afford to pay the rent, etc, etc, etc.

I have no idea how they will deal with just beach access, but I expect people will be able to use the beach to swim.

As for the next few days, it is highly advisable to avoid the area.

@dinosinc Hi, so what is the story behind this? What 'reno' are we talking about here? Actually upgrading the beach area and making it better or is there anything else going on? Something must be serious enough for the swat team to be called in. Hope this is a temporary inconvenience and that, in the long run, it'll benefit Sosua and the people who live and vacation there.

Like he said they have known this was coming! Clearly the police etc were expecting problems! I've not seen any official announcements about anything yet.
-@planner

The President was recently in Sosua to accept the land for the plazas from the private land owner who owns the land behind the beach.

There have been numerous meetings with the beach bar owners.  A video released by the government on the planned renovations.

And now, even Danny. who owned Malibu, coming to the realization that the future is now for the renovations to start and he has to go tomorrow. 

@dinosinc Hi, so what is the story behind this? What 'reno' are we talking about here? Actually upgrading the beach area and making it better or is there anything else going on? Something must be serious enough for the swat team to be called in. Hope this is a temporary inconvenience and that, in the long run, it'll benefit Sosua and the people who live and vacation there.
-@DrexCanDR

The DR government's plan from Santo Domingo and Luis Abinader and his people:

All current businesses gone. No more shacks.

Three new plazas with some businesses in each one. No idea how many and what type.

Parking for 300 cars.

Temporary for this new build out to happen will be more than a couple of months.

Concrete work takes time.

I have heard about plans for this renovation for many years.  Looks like it starts manana.

@windeguy Do you happen to have a link to the video from the government about the proposed plans? I’m currently building a place in Sosua but I have never actually been there. My wife and I have our first trip booked for October. We are not familiar with that part of the DR so therefore I apologize if I seem out of the loop because, well, I am. 😊

@windeguy Do you happen to have a link to the video from the government about the proposed plans? I’m currently building a place in Sosua but I have never actually been there. My wife and I have our first trip booked for October. We are not familiar with that part of the DR so therefore I apologize if I seem out of the loop because, well, I am. 😊
-@DrexCanDR

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=604155177700605

I was there a few months ago , and was told that some hotels and apartments were going up across the highway and they weren’t relocating the people on the beach , they were throwing them out to make the beach more upscale for the tourists and people that were going to live and visit in the new units being built….. they said the people were on the beach illegally and never paid taxes or rent  , was told may take 2 - years to change the whole area

@windeguy Thanks.

Windeguy seems to have the best info! Thanks hon for updating us

Windeguy seems to have the best info! Thanks hon for updating us
-@planner

I have been following this for years now. Lots of misinformation that I hope I can clarify.

None of the vendors have title to the land their businesses are on. That is the salient point and is most unfortunate for them because they have no legal recourse in what will happen. Many people like Sosua beach the way it is. The government does not and that is what will matter.

But of course, let us see what happens today. The general public will temporarily not be allowed on the beach while the clearing operation is done supervised by the PN. I suspect force will be needed to remove some of the people and it could get very ugly today.

August 30, 2022​

Playa Sosúa​

The hotel sector and neighborhood associations of Sosúa express their support for the renovation of the beach to ensure tourist growth. Last Monday afternoon a fruitful meeting took place with the business community, hoteliers and chairmen of neighborhood councils, who, like the rest of the population of Sosúa, support the initiatives to renovate the beautiful beach of Sosúa. Entrepreneurs and the vast majority of popular sectors understand the need for this great project, which will greatly benefit the economy of Sosúa. The project, with an investment of more than 600 million pesos, marks the relaunch of tourism in Playa Sosúa and the generation of jobs in that area of the Puerto Plata province. The work includes the construction of three plazas for handicraft sellers, with shops, 300 parking spaces and recreational areas with surveillance cameras for the enjoyment of the whole family and tourists visiting the beach. Deputy Tourism Minister Patricia Mejía was accompanied by the provincial governor of Puerto Plata Claritza Rochette de Senior and the provincial senator Ginet Burnigal.​

The Mayor of the Municipality of Sosúa, Wilfredo Olivences (El Chamo) was of course also there and Stephanie Kfouri, Provincial Director of Tourism, General Manager of the Puerto Plata Cable Car, Atahualpa Paulino and Sosúa's Tourism Manager, Ronny Brito. Also present were representatives of many associations from Sosúa involved in tourism.

But whether something will actually happen and when?

The future will tell!​

Sosúa-News

Latest news from Sosúa, the fun village on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

www.sosuanews.com

Looks like the future is today.  Now sure why the jpeg image of those at the meeting does not show up in the above post.

Members of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the National Police and the Tourism Police seized the beach facilities in the municipality of Sosúa, after the government and the vendors failed to reach an agreement on the size of the the three plazas that will be built on the site.

The sellers fear that, as has been done from “Casa Marina to Cabarete, where all the beaches are privatized”, it will be done on that coast.

They assure that they want 150 meters for each of the three squares that will be built on the beach and the government is offering them 100 meters, so they will not give in to that request.

'The government has taken over the beach here to take the beach away from us,' said one of the vendors in a video posted on social media.

They blame deputy Rafael Aníbal Díaz Rodríguez for any situation, for directing the contingent, as well as the mayor of the municipality of Sosúa, Wilfredo Olivences, for 'anything that could happen to them.'

According to vendors, Tourism Minister David Collado is expected to attend the scene.

In a video posted on social networks by an American, it is explained that the premises were intervened and all commercial activity was prohibited. The man expressed his concern and dissatisfaction with the action.

Above is a translation from this article on what is happening now on Sosua Beach:  https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … a-de-sosua

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … a-de-sosua

Santo Domingo, DR.

Members of the National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD), the National Police and the Tourism Police intervened in the facilities of the beach in the municipality of Sosúa , after the government and the vendors did not reach an agreement on the size of the the three plazas that will be built on the site.

The sellers fear that, as has been done from “Casa Marina to Cabarete, where all the beaches are privatized”, it will be done on that coast.

They assure that they want 150 meters for each of the three squares that will be built on the beach and the government is offering them 100 meters, so they will not give in to that request.

"The government has taken over the beach here to take the beach away from us," said one of the vendors in a video posted on social media.

They blame deputy Rafael Aníbal Díaz Rodríguez for any situation, for directing the contingent, as well as the mayor of the municipality of Sosúa, Wilfredo Olivences, for "anything that could happen to them."

According to vendors, Tourism Minister David Collado is expected to attend the scene.

In a video posted on social networks by an American, it is explained that the premises were intervened and all commercial activity was prohibited. The man expressed his concern and dissatisfaction with the action.

I suspect very few if any of the more than 100 vendors that will be removed today will have any businesses in the new plazas without being given almost free rent. We will see on that months down the road. First the clearing, then the building, then the tenants of those plazas....

The clearing starting  today will not go down easily. 

I expect it will be similar to what happened in many other areas.  Illegal  buildings and  businesses replaced.   New, nice, proper locations set up and  properly rented to  legal enterprises?  Lets hope.

This happened along the Malecon in Puerto Plata.  It was a big big deal when it happened.  New casetas only rented to "Dominican" owned businesses. Of course people find a way around that.  Business is thriving, its cleaner and I hope  staff are treated better than before.

You are very  right in a number of your assessments  Windeguy, again thanks!

You have to feel sorry for all the people that frequented that area to enjoy the many vendors and all the locals working there, earning a living. I have never been to this area so I can't comment on personal experiences but in the long-run, revitalizing such a prime spot and giving tourists a more 'upscale' experience will in the end benefit everyone - well, at least most. It'll bring more visitors to the area which means more revenue but more importantly, it'll drive up demand for service offerings which ultimately translates into job opportunities. Apparently, based on several comments in this thread, the shacks weren't legal entities and business owners never had titles. The land wasn't theirs so in the end, those things needed to be taken into account. It would be the same in most other countries that uphold the rules of the law. Sometimes, change is good and unfortunately, that means an era coming to an end that many people have come to love. It is a sad day on several levels but one that signals positive change as well. They did a great job at Taino Bay with all those modern shops. Maybe we'll see something similar being built at Sosua Beach? Time will tell. Hopefully, today won't get too ugly. Nobody needs to get hurt or arrested; nothing anyone can do to change the situation at this point. Stay safe.

planner, here is a post confirming yours above that was made on DR1.  I also agree with it in intent:

It is happening everywhere. They cleared all the shacks off Playa El Valle. Now if you want food, they bring it in from the villages a few hundred feet back. They are also cleaning up Playa Grande in Las Galeras. When it is finished you will have some nice clean shops and modern bathrooms. I am not sure why people want the status quo. When you arrive at some of these beaches like Sosua, a tourist needs to run the gauntlet of aggressive vendors, gordas, the smell of urine, zero organization or planning, bad bathrooms, and then finally you get to the beach and the ocean. Sometimes change is good.

DrexCanDR.   I do expect some violence today and when the demolition starts. It is just the nature of such things when people are forced against their will to leave what was their livelihood .  Hopefully it won't be bad.

The Republic Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Mail

They militarize Sosúa beach to de-urbanize it

Edgar Lantigua

Sosua, Puerto Plata, DR

The Sosúa beach was militarized in the midst of the conflict maintained by vendors operating in the area, due to the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism that seeks to build a plaza to relocate them.

The vendors attributed the action to the interest of removing them and privatizing the beach and to the fact that they had been summoned to a meeting on Monday to which they were unable to attend.

The Ministry of Tourism insists that the beach will not be privatized and that it is sought to de-urbanize it, beautify it and guarantee that visitors can have a better environment in the area.

The representatives of the spa vendors demand that a square be built on the beach that they currently occupy, in addition to the Tourism proposal to build it on their adjoining lot ceded by the Pastoriza family.

Another claim is that they be granted a space of 150 meters instead of the 100 meters proposed by the Tourism Commission.

The initiative to organize and de-urbanize the beach has received the support of the Sosúa business community, the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Sosúa and Cabarete, as well as Mayor Wilfredo Olivence (Willy El Chamo).

On June 22, in a ceremony headed by President Luis Abinader and Minister David Collado, the start of work was announced after a tentative agreement was reached with the representatives of the booth owners.

However, since then, negotiations have stalled.

Local sectors have questioned that the refusals are carried out by deputy Aníbal Díaz, from Santo Domingo, and that local deputies, who know the situation and could achieve a better environment for solving the problem, have not been integrated.

The situation of suburbanization of the beach together with the prostitution that swarms in the streets of this municipality are considered the problems to relaunch local tourism. The government announced in June an investment of RD$600 million for the works that Sosúa needs.

Conflict

Without deal.

Members of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the National Police and the Tourism Police seized the beach facilities in the municipality of Sosúa, after the government and the vendors failed to reach an agreement on the size of the the three squares that will be built on the site

Fear.

The vendors fear that as has been done from 'Casa Marina to Cabarete, where they privatized the beaches.'

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … abalizarla

How many vendors can fit into the three 100 meter square plazas to be built?

Not many..

Sosua Beach is beautiful and because it’s calm it offers snorkeling and kayaking rare in this area.  The current condition puts off a lot of people.  Due to the number of shacks there, tourists are nearly assaulted upon entering the beach by competitors asking for business. 

This has never really bothered me, but it has prompted many comments by people we have taken there. As a result we rarely do anymore. 

Compare this to the “privatized” Cabarete beach. There are far fewer restaurant and bars and thus fewer “hawkers” inviting you to eat. They also seem less aggressive as well, taking “no” as an answer quickly.   

All in all Cabarete Beach is a more relaxing experience IMO.  While I feel sorry for the many shop owners and workers in Sosua, I do believe that improving the beach experience there will increase tourism in the area. 

David Collado posted yesterday artists renditions from the video on what the new Sosua beach plazas will look like:

https://www.facebook.com/DavidColladoM?_rdc=1&_rdr

David Collado

  ·

No prostitution, no abuse of boys and girls in our country. That's the Sosua beach we started building!

There was supposed to be an announcement yesterday from the government on how they were going to proceed.

Just one of the artists renditions of the new plaza area for Sosua Beach that David Collado posted.

I asked him when the work would actually start. Do I expect a reply? Not really.

You have to hope it will be ready for high season so it has the least impact on those who are now out of work!

@planner

Work like shown will take MANY months.  And they have not even started yet with clearing all of the current businesses out.

I am not sure that the delay is after the announcement was made this week.

There is NO chance this will be ready for this year's high season.  Not a chance on that save for some divine miracle. 

There is a lot of misinformation going around that Sosua beach itself will be closed to the public permanently. That simply is not true. It will be very different based upon the governments plans as shown by David Collago than the current squalor that some call "charm" , but it will not be closed to the public.

They will have to close the beach for safety reasons when they are clearing out the vendors. That is obvious.

I agree,  but one can hope!    Good planning would mean that they took this into account!  Sorry I just made myself laugh out loud.

That is my read as well Windeguy, the beach being closed while its cleared out. There is no way they will close this beach to the public permanently!   

As to the plans posted, I cannot see that being done!  I think that is the WISHLIST  drawings and not what we will actually get.  Time will tell.

Both good and bad to this scenario!  GOOD - Beautiful addition, very upscale, tourist draw, increase tax revenue, vendors paying rent fees, etc.    BAD- Loss of Dominican Culture, Local people out of jobs, plaza looks like lots of unused space, high prices on the horizon, tourists like to see the real culture and may miss that, remember when it was real and not so sterile, loss of a beach for the locals. 

Progress is sometimes hard to accept as moving forward!

The locals will still be able to visit the beach and bring their own food and coolers like they do now.

It is the vendors that are losing, but the locals who are not vendors in general seem to support the renovation work.

The complaints I see are from expats that love the so called charm and don't like the changes.

I know how long it takes to build concrete structures like those shown. A lot of time. Footings. walls, roof, finish work, etc, etc. Things that cannot be sped up into weeks and not months because the concrete needs to cure. If they started work today, maybe in 6 months it could open? I await the real experts in building to provide their perspective, but I know how long it has taken us to build much smaller things with concrete and rebar and see what places like Casa Linda do just down the street from me.

The expression comes to mind: To make an omelet, you need to break some eggs. 

There is a lot of breakage to be done if this proceeds as planned.

I see no reason to post such images if that is not indeed the plan.

In 20 years of living in Cabarete, I might have visited Sosua beach about 10 times.

That is how much I liked the "culture" there.

From Sosua-News https://www.sosuanews.com/index.php

September 15, 2022

Representatives of the association of sellers of Playa Sosúa met yesterday at the dialogue table with the Ministry of Tourism in Santo Domingo. Hopefully they will come to a solution that is acceptable to both parties, but it will not be easy. We are curious