Central Santo Domingo or better known as Polígono Central (English: Central Polygon) is a term used to group several neighborhoods located in central Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic defined as the area delineated by John F Kennedy Avenue (also known as DR-1) on the north, on the west by Winston Churchill avenue, on the east by Maximo Gomez avenue, and on the south by 27 de Febrero avenue (also known as DR-3).[1]
The centric area forms the core of the city of Santo Domingo which includes the neighborhoods of Naco, Piantini, Paraíso, and Yolanda Morales. This central polygon, as the name implies, serves as the main economic and business center of the city. The neighborhoods within the bounds of Downtown are granted higher-desinty zoning by the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional. Some of the most affluent neighborhoods of Santo Domingo are located within the downtown even as growth has overflowed to other locations outside the area. Piantini, Naco, & Paraiso all experience high levels of urbanization and better than average quality of life. The area is mostly composed of mixed-development zoning having most of the commercial zoning on the main avenues while having mostly residential zoning in the inner streets.
Some of the most important avenues of the city are located in the Polígono Central including Winston Churchill avenue with very high banking and commercial activity, and Abraham Lincoln avenue serving as the main thoroughfare of the city-center. Since the late 1990s a general trend of vertical growth has been experienced throughout the area creating complications of traffic and lack of appropriate infrastructure to handle the higher density levels. Most of Downtown Santo Domingo does not have the adequate infrastructure to handle high-density office and residential buildings. During the late 1990s, it was mostly composed of large family homes and low-rise buildings. Rapid urbanization has led to solutions like the new Santo Domingo Metro and the creation of two express urban corridors or highways towards North Downtown Santo Domingo and South Downtown Santo Domingo.
This is a list of the neighborhoods located within the boundaries of Downtown Santo Domingo.
Club Paraiso and Club Naco each located in their respective neighborhoods are private members-only clubs that offer sporting facilities and activities on a daily basis. Club Naco being one of the most prestigious clubs in Santo Domingo. Also within central Santo Domingo is the Centro Olimpico JPD. There is not that many green space in Downtown Santo Domingo and it lacks city parks or private green space with the exception of those above.
Centro Olimpico Juan Pablo Duarte is the main sport center of the city of Santo Domingo and occupies roughly the eastern fourth of the Polígono Central. Limited by Kennedy, Gomez, and 27 de Febrero avenues it serves as a multi-sport facility in which the 2003 Pan American Games and the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games were hosted. Popular events like the Festival Presidente de la Musica Latina and concerts by The Jonas Brothers, The Killers, Maroon 5, La Ley, Shakira, Tiësto, and many other music artists have taken place in the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in the COJPD.
Public transportation is handled by the Santo Domingo Metro and the OMSA bus system
See main article: Santo Domingo Metro.
Downtown Santo Domingo is currently served by line 1 of the Santo Domingo Metro on the intersections of Maximo Gomez with DR-1 and DR-3. Currently on construction is line 2 of the system which will have stops along Expreso John F Kennedy and avenues Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Lope de Vega, & Ortega & Gasset. In the near future, the construction of line 3 of the metro system along Expreso 27 de Febrero (DR-3) will enclose Downtown Santo Domingo with full mass transportation access.
Downtown Santo Domingo is currently served by the bus service provided by the Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses which provides bus service along the John F Kennedy & 27 de Febrero corridors (west/east), and along the Maximo Gomez, Winston Churchill and Tiradentes avenues (north/south). The service is plagued by the lack of funding by the government therefore it is infrequent.
Private transportation is by far currently the most popular form of transportation in Downtown Santo Domingo and as a consequence the city streets are plagued with traffic congestion. With the completion of Corredor Duarte (2010) and line 2 (2012) of the Santo Domingo Metro a relieve to the current chaos could be accomplished.
Winston Churchill is a North-south avenue that runs through the western boundary of Downtown Santo Domingo. It borders to the west the neighborhoods of Paraiso, Yolanda Morales, and Piantini and borders to the east the middle-class neighborhood Ensanche Julieta and Evarito Morales. Winston Churchill avenue is host to the largest concentration of commercial malls and banks in the city including Multicentro La Sirena/Super Pola, Mall at the Acropolis, Blue Mall, Supermercado Bravo and locations of Scotiabank, Citibank, Banreservas, Banco del Progreso and a significant amount of international fast food chains.
Abraham Lincoln avenue is North-South avenue in the core of Downtown Santo Domingo. It serves as the major thoroughfare of the center and services the neighborhoods of Piantini, Naco, Yolanda Morales, Paraiso, and Seralles. A major avenue for business and offices and a variety of Shopping plazas are also located in the avenue. Lope De Vega avenue starts out in Abraham Lincoln avenue and splits off in a Northeast direction towards John F Kennedy Avenue.
See main article: DR-13.
Maximo Gomez part of DR-13 is the eastern border of Downtown Santo Domingo.
A short section of DR-1 named Expreso John F Kennedy runs through the north of Downtown Santo Domingo. It is composed of a series of elevated express viaduct which run above the intersection of Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Lope De Vega, Tiradentes, and Ortega & Gasset avenues. An underpass under Maximo Gomez completes John F Kennedy as an urban corridor. To the west of Downtown Santo Domingo the corridor become highway Juan Pablo Duarte and to the east it becomes Expreso Quinto Centenario.