(H. B. 4648) (No. 553) (Approved November 1, 2004) AN ACT To declare part of the downtown area of the city of Vega Baja as historical zone; delimit its perimeter; direct the preparation of a revitalization and valuation plan for the zone thus designated as historical; provide in respect of the applicable laws and regulations; and for other purposes. STATEMENT OF MOTIVES The historical zone hereby proposed comprises the foundational nucleus of the Vega Baja del Naranjal of 1776, which was after declared to be a Village in 1882, and city by its own right in 1990. Throughout history, the most important economic, social and cultural activities of this municipality have taken place within the confines of this zone, which activities have greatly contributed to the development of the entire northern area of Puerto Rico. The downtown area of Vega Baja is predominantly neoclassical in nature and represents the best preserved urban center of the region. The historical zone proposed conserves the most important models of 19 th century and early 20 th century architecture in existence in this region. Among these, the most prominent are three historical monuments recognized by the United States National Register of Historical Places: the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Chuch, the Museo Casa Alonso, and the Tulio Otero Pantheon.
There are other buildings which constitute major historical landmarks, such as the Town Hall, the Fénix Theater, the América Theater, the Old Train Station, and the Rafael Cano Llovio Building (formerly a Tobacco Factory). Uncontrolled development has affected the urban outlay of the city and has brought about a certain deterioration of the traditional downtown area. This legislative measure seeks to assist in the revitalization and valuation of this urban center which still retains its essential characteristics, even though its activity as the vital center of the municipality has decreased. The Municipal Government of Vega Baja has distinguished itself for rescuing and promoting the history and the culture of the city and has intensely worked for eight years in the planning and preparation of the historical zone project, complying with all the requirements established by Planning Code of Regulations No. 5, which governs the designation, registration and preservation of historical sites and zones in Puerto Rico. For this purpose, the Municipal Government of Vega Baja initiated a study leading to the nomination of the historical zone in collaboration with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, Northern Region of Historical Landmarks, in which a historical and architectural inventory was conducted land plot by land plot of the area delimited as possible historical zone. A selective study was also conducted, entitled Inventario histórico y arquitectónico de Vega Baja [lit.: Historical and Architectural Inventory of Vega Baja], prepared by Doctor Leonardo Santana Rabel and Professor Luis de la Rosa Martínez in 1990. For the past few years, the Municipal Government of Vega Baja has restored the América Theater, the Fénix Theater, the Old Tobacco Factory (Rafael Cano Llovio Building), and the Chapel of the Municipal Cemetery, among other buildings of historical value. In 2003, the Office of the Director of Urban Development of the
Department of Transportation and Public Works commissioned a study for the Revitalization of the Urban Center of Vega Baja, which expounded on the architectural analysis of the urban center with emphasis on its historical zone. The Investment Program of the Municipal Government and the Commonwealth Government for the Revitalization of the Urban Center includes the restoration of historical facades of buildings in José Julián Acosta, Luis Muñoz Rivera, and Ramón Emeterio Betances Streets, the restoration of buildings known as the Junior [High] to establish the Institute of the Arts, the restoration of Casa Portela as a Historical and Archeological Museum, the remodeling of the Old Jesús Armaiz Hospital, the Paseo Betances, the Portals of the Urban Center, Public Art Program, the remodeling of the Town Square, and the restoration of the Old Train Station. The Municipality of Vega Baja is also working in a four-phase housing project to repopulate the urban center. The commitment of the Municipal Government of Vega Baja is such that in 2002, the Hon. Luis E. Meléndez Cano, the city mayor, established the Municipal Archive and Historical Zone Office in order to implement the conservation policies of the Historical Zone project. The Area Plan proposed in the Land Ordinance Plan shall provide for very careful planning for the zone and contemplates the declaration as Historical Zone as a fundamental part. The Historical Zone of Vega Baja is a community-based initiative through which the Municipal Government of Vega Baja seeks to recognize the value of the historical heritage in terms of city buildings by providing a tool that renders sustained integrated development viable through the passage of time and by preserving the capability of the zone as a vehicle for
social, historical and cultural integration in order to promote a better quality of life. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO: Section 1. The urban center area of the city of Vega Baja is hereby declared to be a Historical Zone of Puerto Rico, which shall comprise the following perimeter: to the west, Luis Muñoz Rivera Street at both sides, from its intersection with José Julián Acosta Street (including 70 José Julián Acosta Building) to the intersection with Betances Street continuing at the south on the east side of Luis Muñoz Rivera Street to Ramón Baldorioty de Castro Street with Luis Muñoz Rivera Street and Eugenio María de Hostos Street (north side), including, south Ramón Baldorioty de Castro Street, the Rafael Cano Llovio Building (Old Tobacco Factory) and the Masons Lodge. To the east, the limits of the historical zone includes the west side of Eugenio María de Hostos Street from Ramón Baldorioty de Castro Street to the intersection with José Julián Acosta Street. To the north, the limit of the historical zone is demarcated by the buildings of north José Julián Acosta Street from the Eugenio María de Hostos Street intersection to the Luis Muñoz Rivera Street intersection. The buildings comprised within the limits of the José Gualberto Padilla Elementary School, the building denominated Brígida Álvarez (currently the Urban Middle School, originally a High School), the Old Jesús Armaiz Hospital area, and the Old Train Station, shall be considered as an integrating part of the historical zone and as satellites thereof. Section 2. It is hereby provided that in any urban development or improvement plan projected for the zone or which may be projected in the future, the prominently historical nature of the zone be preserved as well as
the combination of constructive and spatial styles and characteristics which make it unique. Section 3. It is hereby provided that the Code of Regulations Number 5 on Historical Sites and Zones shall be in effect in the historical zone hereby designated from the time the Act takes effect. The same shall be complemented with the special zoning norms of the zone, when these are prepared and approved. Section 4. Those taxation measures and incentives provided by laws in effect for the Historical Zone shall be applied, as well as those that the Municipality of Vega Baja may provide according to its capabilities, in order to promote the protection, revitalization and improvement of the Historical Zone declared herein. Section 5. Any determination of the Regulations and Permits Administration or of the Municipality of Vega Baja shall conform to Planning Code of Regulations Number 5, with the proposed Area Plan, and with the special policy that applies. Section 6. Any project that affects the Historical Zone may be revised by request of interested parties, through recourse of appeal presented before the Construction and Land Plotting Board of Appeals. Section 7. This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 553 (H.B. 4648) of the 7 th Session of the 14 h Legislature of Puerto Rico: AN ACT to declare part of the downtown area of the city of Vega Baja as historical zone; delimit its perimeter; direct the preparation of a revitalization and valuation plan for the zone thus designated as historical; provide in respect of the applicable laws and regulations; and for other purposes, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 22 nd of January of 2007. Francisco J. Domenech Director