municipal authorities and the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (Codia) clarified that the City Center projectwhich takes place in the Santo Domingo Este municipality, is not in an irregular condition and currently complies with the established legal processes.
The general secretary of the Mayor’s Office of Santo Domingo Este, Jesus Columbusassured that the project has all the required permissionswhich were approved by the Urban Planning Departmentand that it is no longer necessary for the land use be known by the Chapter House, in accordance with what is established by the Constitutional Court.
Columbus referred to the ruling TC/1373/25December 2025, by which the Constitutional Court set a new criterion regarding land useestablishing that the mayorships of the country do not require the approval of the Chapter House for these purposes, being the direct responsibility of the urban planning directorates.
“This ruling overthrows previous precedents and establishes a general criterion for all the city councils in the country,” explained the municipal official, who also indicated that the project complied with the payment of the corresponding taxes.
For his part, the president of Codia, Enrique Rosario Garcíaexplained that the project is in the process of assessment through the Single Window of Construction, under application number UC1905-2025, and that so far no structural work has begun, but only cleaning and cleaning work. earth movement.
Rosario specified that this type of preliminary work are allowed, as long as they have the environmental authorization corresponding, and that the fact of being a single window implies that the different state institutions They review the file in a coordinated manner.
“He earth movement It does not represent the beginning of the structural work. This requires that the process be completely approved. What is being done now is part of the land clearing“he indicated.
He also clarified that the union does not have the power to paralyze projects, since that power corresponds to the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (Mived) already mayorships. However, he pointed out that the Codia Yes, it can intervene if it is proven that the work does not have registered professionals or does not comply with the Law 7160.
The representative of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (Codia) Delegation Santo Domingo ProvinceJeudi Rubi, had asked the authorities to stop the construction of the Mall City Center by Lady Lee, because, allegedly, he does not have a land permit from the city council of that municipality, which, in his opinion, violated the laws and technical regulations of the Dominican Republic.
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For its part, the Lady Lee Corporation reported that the City Center by Lady Lee project is in the earthworks stage, for which it already has a land use permit since November 2025 according to file No. 170-025, which was duly granted by the Urban Planning Directorate of the Santo Domingo Este City Council.
Law permits
Paulo Herrerarepresentative of the Board of Directors, assured that, in addition, the project has the corresponding permissions of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, including for earthworks and environmental licenseissued in accordance with the technical and environmental studies required by law.
He specified that they have the permits of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) relating to the bridges and road works contemplated within the scope of the project.
Regarding the procedures before the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (Mived), the Corporation informs that the files and technical documentation have been duly deposited and are currently in the normal process of assessmentaccording to the administrative procedures established for projects of this nature.
