Pridco begins demolition plan to repurpose old facilities
The Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co. has launched a plan to demolish outdated industrial facilities and repurpose land for new investment, Executive Director Roberto Lefranc announced.
“As part of our public policy, we send a message to all Puerto Ricans who want to open a business in Puerto Rico and want to invest, that we have a policy of being open for business, not only for those here, but also for those who want to establish themselves here,” Lefranc said.
The plan began last week with the demolition of three properties in Quebradillas dating to the 1940s and 1950s. The structures, totaling more than 100,000 square feet at the Cacao Industrial Park, had become unusable because of structural and environmental problems, he said.
“We’re demolishing buildings whose foundation was no longer functional, that had environmental problems, that had structural problems,” Lefranc said. “Why? To free up the land so that this land, which is already classified as a commercial and industrial zone, can be used by a new company that wants to establish itself in Puerto Rico.”
He said the Quebradillas site had been vacant for 22 years and had become a community burden. By removing obsolete buildings, Pridco aims to provide shovel-ready land for companies to build new facilities suited to their operations.
“This is a real convenience,” he said.
The Quebradillas effort is “just the beginning,” Lefranc said, noting that demolitions are also planned in Moca, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Guánica, Isabela, Ponce, San Germán, Utuado and Vega Baja. In total, 22 sites are targeted as part of the first phase of the program.
At the same time, Pridco is investing in facilities that continue to serve the island’s industrial base. Lefranc said the agency is allocating more than $2.6 million this fiscal year to repair roofs, strengthen structures and make other improvements.
“We’re working with the structures we do want to maintain, improving structural reinforcements and addressing other specific structural issues to put Pridco’s facilities in their best condition so that when a company comes to establish itself in Puerto Rico, Pridco is the first to facilitate the process,” he said.
The program aligns with the government’s commitment to streamline leasing, reduce bureaucracy and make Puerto Rico more competitive for investment, Lefranc said.
With demolitions underway and upgrades planned, Pridco’s goal is to modernize its inventory of industrial properties and make Puerto Rico more attractive for local and international businesses, he said. “We will continue to pursue these types of initiatives across the island.”
