WILLEMSTAD - Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao has initiated the sale of a portion of its monumental buildings. Six residential houses and two office buildings, located in Ser'i Otrobanda just west of the bridge approach, have been listed for sale on their website since Monday.
The proceeds from this sale will be used for existing and future restoration projects of the foundation, which currently owns over 120 restored monuments.
It's a first for the nearly seventy-year-old nonprofit organization to offer properties on the open market. The positive trend in the broader public's appreciation of monumental properties has contributed to the belief that the market will be able to take on the responsibility of maintaining these buildings.
Additionally, the need for alternative sources of income has increased since subsidies from the Netherlands ceased with the establishment of the country of Curaçao thirteen years ago. While the foundation can cover the current maintenance costs with the existing rental income, this situation jeopardizes its core mission of restoring endangered monumental buildings.
Details about the properties for sale can be found on the Monumentenzorg website. The commercial properties, Villa Washington and La Armada, are situated on L.B. Smith Square. The residential houses are located on Bonairestraat and Witteweg.
To prevent unwanted consequences of the sale, Monumentenzorg has included safeguards in the sales contract. The new owner must maintain the property and cannot resell it within five years. For the sale of residential properties, preference will be given to buyers intending to occupy them personally.
