Puerto Plata is Growing and Getting Even Better
The north coast of the Dominican Republic is evolving, and Puerto Plata is leading the way.
It’s always nice to see the future improvements planned for the area. Since moving to the north coast, I’ve noticed how much Puerto Plata has been steadily developing.
What is happening in Puerto Plata
So many exciting new things are happening here. Whether you’re a tourist, an expat, or a local, there’s something to enjoy with the new additions. Puerto Plata already offers a wide variety of international foods, so some of the newest spots can easily go unnoticed. From California-style chicken and waffles to a gourmet Caribbean restaurant, just a few I got to check out.
I always imagined the day I’ll be looking back and pointing out so much that wasn't here in the past, that's now here in the present. In such a short time, that is already happening. The surge of new construction and waterfront properties looks promising, with new condos hitting the market at attractive price points under $100K (USD).
What I’m most looking forward to are a couple of new plazas already under construction in prime areas. These plazas are being built in really good areas, that will add more value for residents. I also saw an advertisement for a luxury mall coming soon, and it will be interesting to see how it turns out.
Take me out to the ball game
If you’re unaware, the Dominican Republic is huge on baseball. This island produces a remarkable number of players who go on to achieve the ultimate goal of playing professionally in Major League Baseball.
So it was a surprise to me that this nice indoor baseball stadium had been out of service for some time.
I was telling my lady that the city needs a sports team people can support and rally behind. That will give residents something to do and builds a real sense of community pride. I’m not a big baseball fan myself, but I do enjoy live events.
Then, without any prior knowledge, I found out the stadium had been renovated and that very day a game was being hosted. We went to the game and the entry cost a couple of dollars. On the way in, a man walking with his daughter had an extra ticket and kindly gave it to us.
The game was fun, with classic merengue music played between breaks to keep things lively. To top it all off, the gifted ticket we received earlier ended up being called in the raffle draw, and we won the local team’s hat.
Sosúa is changing for the better
Known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife mixed with a controversial red-light district, the town of Sosúa is undergoing major changes. About a year ago, the restaurants along the beach were the first to be shut down. Some say it was for aesthetic reasons.
At the time, when I was living in the south of the Dominican Republic, I didn’t know much about Sosúa. Later, when we decided to move to the north, we looked at places there. This small town has some of the best options to buy or rent, not to mention a great location. But the one lingering issue that stopped us from calling Sosúa home was the ever-growing red-light district. It seemed to overshadow the beautiful beaches and the vibe the town had to offer. It was disappointing, because the rental prices by the beach were a steal.
Well, all that is changing now, and Sosúa is cleaning up. A few months ago, there were heavy police raids targeting prostitution. It was a big deal, making national news. At first, many doubters said it was political and wouldn’t change anything. But the police showed up with a strong presence night after night. If it was for show, they wanted everyone to see they were serious. I assume the raids worked, because the news has since faded.
The talk of Sosúa now is about the opening of the new Hard Rock Cafe that was recently built. Many believe that’s the reason for all these sudden changes. The government seems to be thinking long-term. Prostitution is illegal in the Dominican Republic, and Sosúa’s location is prime real estate. Although it’s the next town over from where we live, we look forward to enjoying the new additions that any of the nearby towns have to offer.
The betterment of the area is all I want, so the more there is to do and see, the better.
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