Port City Oranjestad approved valued at US$550 million in investments




The government of Aruba approved the major master-plan to transform the former freezone area of
Oranjestad into a mixed use development by the name of Port City. The plan calls for a mix of retail
businesses, boutique hotels, residential complexes, offices, Aruba World Trade Center, recreational
zones (including the Aruba Botanical Gardens), a marina, a boardwalk from the cruise terminal towards
the Tamarijn Beach Resort, and a waterfront entertainment stage. The Bushiri Beach will remain public and easily accessible to cruise passengers.

Port City intends to connect people, urbanity, and the Caribbean Sea with each other, in what is to
became a vibrant urban section complimentary to downtown Oranjestad. In fact this plan is an
expansion of downtown Oranjestad towards the West. The plan will encompass an area of
approximately 20 acres, and will include a waterfront park accessible to the public.

The master-plan is divided into different plots with their set individual requirements. Investors will be
invited in the near future by the government to present their propositions per plot. The architectural
design of the buildings, and overall urban ambiance will reflect that of the Dutch tropical Caribbean.
Meaning pastel colors buildings, in so maintaining the cultural characteristics of Aruba. The government
will do its part on infrastructure investments which will include a new road alongside the park at the waterfront.

Port City is estimated at US$550 million worth in investments of which US$500 million from investors
and private contractors. The master-plan will take up to 10 years to be completed. The master-plan is
designed by OZ Architects in collaboration with the Port of Amsterdam, and Aruba Ports Authority. The plan is set to start

https://www.ozarchitect.nl/projects/por ... bor-front/

To be completed in 10 years? Yeh right.

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Aruba, One Happy Island!

Thanks for the info Eddy. Glad to see that a good use will be made out of what used to be an eyesore.

No, you guys are misreading it. The PLAN is to be completed in 10 years, and I'd believe that. Who knows how long the building of it will take, though...

Aha I see, 10 years to plan it. But I'd bet that 20 or even 30 years from now people will be asking "Hey, whatever happened to that plan for Port City they talked about way back in 2019?"

First phase will start in the fourth quarter of 2019. Which includes the construction of a boutique hotel, and the upgrade of Bushiri Beach, with all beach facilities.

And they (whoever "they" are) at the same time will still be working on the green corridor? That's been in the works since what year? And still not finished. And the by pass from the airport to the high rise area? Where will all the manpower come from to work on these two unfinished projects plus start this new one?

Great idea but not practical. One word ROADS.

Have any of you ever tried to drive downtown when the cruise ships are in town which is every day. From 9:00ish in the morning until 6:00ish at night it's almost impossible to get through town. If you dare go it's an hour to navigate.

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It's a simple case of Mind over Matter.
I don't Mind and you don't matter. Brother Barry

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Aruba, One Happy Island!

A great idea but how do you direct the thousand of people who come off the multiple cruise ships to use the one or two bridges.

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It's a simple case of Mind over Matter.
I don't Mind and you don't matter. Brother Barry

I would think some type of barrier along the road on both sides would help move the pedestrian traffic towards one of 3 bridges. One at the start of the trolley, one at casino entrance and the other at the main entrance to the large parking lot. At those 3 locations, there would really be no inconvenience to anyone wanting to cross. You may be able to get away with only 2 bridges and still keep the traffic moving.

Exactly, just like on the Las Vegas strip, it is pretty much impossible to cross the street unless you use one of the over the street bridges.

Build a wall.

Let's make Aruba great again.

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It's a simple case of Mind over Matter.
I don't Mind and you don't matter. Brother Barry

I'm 57 and I'm sure that I won't be able to see the end of it...

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Pierre