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On Thursday, San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo introduced a new program aimed at housing rehabilitation to renovate or enhance run-down residences, intending to enable families in San Juan to elevate their living standards.
As part of this extensive initiative, families will choose a licensed contractor from the Housing Department’s Registry of Eligible Contractors to undertake the reconstruction of their homes.
Romero revealed the first homes scheduled for reconstruction through the program, which will benefit three low-income individuals earning below $12,000 annually: Nilda Cordero Angueira from Parcelas Falú, along with Norma I. Díaz Malavé and Orlando Cabral Valdéz from Parcelas Hill Brothers, with a total municipal investment of $686,673. The existing structures will be fully demolished to pave the way for new constructions compliant with building codes. The new homes will feature two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, dining area, laundry space, and a carport.
“This new initiative is very meaningful to me as it will permanently enhance the quality of life for these families, affording them the chance to live in the dignified conditions they rightfully deserve,” the mayor stated during Thursday’s press briefing. “This program is aimed at providing relief and assistance to residents who struggle to make improvements amidst a high cost of living, especially given the significant rise in material and labor costs.”
The San Juan Housing Rehabilitation Subsidy Program was created in response to the escalating housing costs in the market, which have made it increasingly challenging for low-income families to find affordable housing. In light of this, the municipal government opted to revise its housing strategy to focus on the rehabilitation of current residential properties by their owners, deciding to redirect all funds from 2017 to 2023 toward this initiative. As of September 25 of this year, the revised budget supervised by Romero reached a total of $17.8 million.
To qualify for the program, interested families or individuals must meet the income limits set forth by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with other program-specific requirements. The property in question must serve as the primary residence, constructed of concrete, and situated within the San Juan area.
Additional details regarding the program can be obtained by contacting (787) 480-5462 or visiting sanjuan.pr.
During the press conference, Romero also launched an innovative platform for the management and acquisition of abandoned properties.
“This new public nuisance platform marks the first time in San Juan’s history that citizens can directly engage in the entire digital process concerning public nuisances, aiming to streamline and expedite the identification, declaration, and rehabilitation of such nuisances in the Capital City,” the mayor explained.
Citizens can access the link estorbos.sanjuan.pr to file a public nuisance complaint and receive guidance on the procedures to declare and acquire properties in this category. They are encouraged to provide physical addresses, sectors, neighborhoods, and the 16-digit cadastral number assigned by the Municipal Revenues Collection Center, along with any relevant property photos.
The new program also enables digitized requests for administrative hearings for citizens wanting to contest before an administrative judge. They can input their complaint number to view and verify the images and information related to their claim, confirming the property in question is theirs. Additionally, citizens may express their reasons for requesting the hearing and submit any pertinent evidence to support their case.
Citizens interested in properties listed in the inventory of public nuisances can submit a letter of intent for acquiring the specified property.
