These are the immediate steps the municipality of San Juan is taking following the fire that affected seven businesses in the busy area, according to Mayor Miguel Romero.
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San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero announced a series of measures to help the business owners affected by the fire that struck seven businesses at La Placita de Santurce on Friday, Jan. 24, including the installation of temporary containers so the businesses can resume operations as soon as possible.
By the numbers:
7 businesses affected
27 employees in total
$2 million in losses preliminarily estimated for business owners
+$10 million in projected total losses
The businesses affected by the fire include:
Local 19: Géminis Beauty Unisex
Local 20: Tato's Meat Market
Local 21-22: Trifongo Taíno
Local 23: Santurce's Café
Local 24: Toñita's Café
Local 25: Botánica La Caridad
Local 26: San Juan SmokeHouse
"Basically we presented (the affected business owners) with a preliminary plan of what we are going to be doing," Romero said at a press conference at La Placita.
Immediate actions by the municipality
Installation of temporary containers so businesses can resume operations. "We have already identified some containers that, once the area affected by the fire is cleared, we can place so that each of the businesses can start operating. Perhaps not in an experience similar or equal to what they had before the fire, but so they can start producing," the mayor said.
Signing of an executive order to allocate up to 10% of the municipal budget. According to Romero, this will serve "to streamline and facilitate and be able to have the architects, the inspectors, carry out the processes that need to be carried out to recover the area."
Financial support through the entrepreneurship capital program. "There is assistance of up to $100,000 — if don Carlos needs to buy a new refrigerator [...] when the final business is set up and he returns to his space, that can be done," the municipal executive explained.
For three businesses, the municipality has already identified specific solutions. Botánica La Caridad would be relocated within the Plaza del Mercado and the butcher shop would operate in an already identified space. Meanwhile, the beauty salon could continue at its current location after minor repairs and the restoration of electricity.
"For the affected business owners, first, the municipality will cover everything related to the containers, the identification, the installation, the permitting, our entrepreneurship capital program, which is the financial grants — all of that is municipal support."
– Miguel Romero, mayor of San Juan
The municipal administration is also considering additional assistance through the federal WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) to help affected employees, and will develop a marketing campaign to promote support for these businesses once they are operating.
As Romero explained, the municipality has already hired a structural engineer to determine whether the area can be rebuilt or requires new construction, a decision he expects to have within the coming weeks. A preliminary assessment by the business owners estimates losses of approximately $2 million, though the mayor anticipates that the total cost of reconstruction could "easily" exceed $10 million.
What caused the fire?
On the causes of the fire, although the Cuerpo de Bomberos' final report is pending, preliminary information suggests that a spark or heat from welding work may have started the fire upon contact with a tarp.
Cover photo: Municipio de San Juan
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
