We know what it looks like now, abandoned and neglected.
I am talking about the block of buildings between Weststraat and Werfstraat.
The area got a great boost when Harbour House opened, inspiring a new vision for downtown. Bodega Papiamento is trying to open a boutique distillery, tasting room, museum and restaurant in the vacant, old ice factory, on the same block, waiting for the snails at the land department to move on a permit. Chef-owned Lima Bistro has been thriving on the Boardwalk, warmly received by tourists and locals.
The new vision describes the area as: Where Amsterdam meets Wynwood, with a local Aruban flavor.
And it is doable, if all real estate owners in the area band together to develop it.
It was once a Mecca of nightlife. It can reinvent itself.
The new vision calls for the creation of a kind of HARBOUR ART DISTRICT, a la Miami Beach, a tourist destination, that will also attract locals of all ages. Some buckets of paint will cover the peeling facades of the block, and once some new cafes and restaurants check in, followed by a bit of nightlife and live music, galleries, arts and crafts, some cruise ships might be enticed to stay overnight and tourist from Palm Beach might be tempted to come downtown for the evening.
Wilhelminastraat has also started its rebirth, and can become a hub of lively night life with bars and restaurants, and young professionals living in the upstairs apartment.
Alberto Perret Gentil, the developer of Harbour House believes that a Common Vision followed by Cohesive Planning will create Unique User Experiences as soon as Genuine Demand Generators are invited to join. He sees it as an endless creative cycle, and I personally don’t think a tee shirt and a made-in-China souvenir store can be considered Genuine Demand Generator.
They have plenty of those around the cruise ship terminal already, all ugly.
The investment, Perret Gentil explains, has to be led by the private sector. It’s all about a comprehensive approach to neighborhood development, as a Harbour Art District, and that would need total community engagement and organization from day one.
And the management team’s job is to create the right mix, of attractions.
Some cute urban vacation rentals will add to the mix.
This concept of urban revival requires a marathon mind-set, this is not a short term plan, slam-bang project, this will take time to achieve synergy and all that’s needed from the Aruba Ports Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, is the opening of gate number one!
The area will host an event every Thursday, with added attractions, and will give visitors a reason to come down.
This is what the press release says: “In small island developing states (SIDS) in particular, the orange economy could play a valuable role in supporting the blue. That is the direction the Perret Group and Fundacion PANA is focusing on to boost the economy of downtown Oranjestad. A first step is The Galleria, followed by the enhancement of the Weststraat/Werfstraat neighborhood by creating a colorful art destination, Harbor Art District. Followed by a culinary destination within the Oranjestad – A City of Gastronomy, initiative spearheaded by Bodega Papiamento.
The first gallery just opened with works by Artmando Multimedia – Painting + Photography; Suelyn Dankerlui – Contemporary Art; Cado de Lannoy – Photography Art; Luque Juan – Wood Art; Federico Cabello – Photo Art / Interior Designs; Erika Moran / ART
