Vieques, Puerto Rico by Luke Walker

Table of Contents Part One

Part Three

Introduction........................................................ 1-2

Master Plan......................................................... 15-16

History................................................................... 3-4

Detail Plans......................................................... 17-18

Design Objective............................................... 5-6

Construction Documents.............................. 19-22 Conclusion.......................................................... 23-24

Part Two

Addendum.......................................................... 23-24

Site.......................................................................... 9

Bibliography....................................................... 23-24

Analysis................................................................. 10 Conceptual Design........................................... 11-12

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Part One

History & Design Objective

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Vieques, Puerto Rico

Introduction The Island of Vieques is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico. It is located approximately six miles east of the main island, and it lies in the northeastern Caribbean. Vieques measures about 21 miles long and 4 miles wide. The population of the island is approximately 10,000. The character of Vieques has been somewhat overshadowed by its controversial relationship with the U.S. military. Because of this, the island has not had the opportunity to reach its full potential as a true Caribbean attraction. In order to prosper, Vieques must invest its future in a rehabilitation and development process that will create a resilient and sustainable island.

http://www.islands.com/files/2012/day_2_san_juan_vieques_villa_casa

Vieques, Puerto Rico

History Just on the brink of the Second World War in 1941, the United States Military purchased about two-thirds of the island. This land was used as a U.S. Navy base and for other military purposes. Of the 22,000 acres purchased, 8,000 lied on the western end of the island and the remaining on the eastern portion. The west end was used for radar and storage purposes, and the land on the eastern end was used as a live training range.

Throughout their occupation of the island, the military caused much degradation to Vieques. Live bombing, gunfire, and other training exercises have caused Vieques to inherit a general legacy of toxic pollution and other harmful chemical pollutions. These risks are evident in the fact that the radiation and cancer rates in Vieques are much higher than surrounding islands and the main island of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Military occupied the island for nearly 60 years before eventually leaving in 2001 after much pressure from the citizens of Vieques.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now control about half of the land previously owned by the U.S. Military. Most of this land has been untouched since the departure of the military and is now labeled as National Wildlife Refuge land.

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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BzKnQ7AUwlw/ Vieques, Puerto Rico

Design Objective The objective of this design is to rehabilitate the island of Vieques through various cleanup efforts and to develop a main attraction to serve citizens and tourists of Vieques. Doing this will provide for a stronger economy for the island, it will create more jobs for the current citizens, and it will enhance the over health, safety, and well being of Vieques. Plans to accomplish this include the development of a tourists resort. The resort area will include various amenities including hotel and pool, private villas, 18 hole golf course, and an ecological preserve area. This design will be based around using sustainable practices and green infrastructure. Developing this way will allow for a cleaner atmosphere, energy efficiency, and eco friendly management practices.

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Vieques, Puerto Rico

Part Two

Site Inventory & Analysis, Conceptual Design

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Vieques, Puerto Rico

Site Puerto Rico The site chose for this project lies on southern portion of the island along the Caribbean Sea. The site is approximately one square mile. It includes existing roads, beaches, and heavily vegetated rolling hills. Vieques

Analysis

The chosen site shows great potential for development. The majority of the area is natural vegetated area with relatively slight slopes. Existing roads allow for easy access throughout the site, and by using these existing roads, there will be less negative environmental impact during development. Habitats including coral reefs and other submerged vegetation will be preserved and unaffected by development.

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Conceptual Design For this conceptual formulation, the main resort area is located in the central area of the site. This allows for direct access from the main existing road, and all other development areas are easily accessible. Also, the resort area, which will include private villas, is located near the existing beaches on the site to allow for direct access. The golf course will serve as one of many amenities of the resort and private villa developments. It is located on the northern portion of the site where there is the most change in topography. This will allow for spectacular views and challenging holes throughout the rolling hills. The ecological reserve area is located on the southern tip of the site along the Caribbean Sea. This will serve as a nature preserve that is accessible to visitors. It will include both walking and bike riding trails, a picnic area by the sea, and overlooks for spectacular views of the Caribbean. There is also potential for a special overlook on the northern portion of the site. This development would allow for people to observe, but not disturb, the incredible bioluminescent bay.

Resort Concept - Micro Scale Vision

Ecological Reserve - Micro Scale Vision

This concept shows the main resort area with private villas to both sides. All three areas are within close proximity to the existing beaches.

This concept shows the ecological preserve area. By the entrance will be parking as well as bike rentals. The area will include walking and biking trails along with natural open space for recreation and leisure activities.

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Part Three

Master Plan & Construction Documents

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Vieques, Puerto Rico

Master Plan This master plan is an illustrative formation of the development plans of the chosen site on the island of Vuieques. The site includes a resort hotel and amenities with two separate private villa areas nearby. There is also an eighteen hole, par 72 golf course for all to enjoy. Nestled on the southern point of the site is a natural preserve nature area. This area is open to the public and gives the visitor a sense of the natural beauty of Vieques. This area is a great place to utilize walking and bike riding trails as well as designated open areas for recreation. At the end of the main road there is an overview deck that allows for fantastic views of the rare and incredible bioluminescent bay.

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Detail Plan - Villas & Overlook

Bioluminescent Bay Overlook Section 17

Detail Plan - Resort

Resort Hotel Vieques, Puerto Rico

Construction Documents - Layout Plan

Construction Documents - Planting Plan

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Construction Documents - Grading & Drainage Plan

Construction Documents - Details

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Although Vieques may be full of leftover material and damage from the sixty years that the U.S. Military occupied the island, it is still full of life and has much to offer. There is great history, food, shopping, tourism, some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best beaches and much more. This development will add more positive additions and bring in more tourists while helping to do away with the negative impacts the island has faced. Vieques is a special, beautiful place. There is much work to be done, but this is an approach that can be built upon to make Vieques the great island that it should be.

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Vieques, Puerto Rico

Addendum Beauty and history merge on this 21 by 4 mile island. Arawak Indians once lived here and it was an infamous heaven for pirates during the 17th century. Various European powers fought for control of Vieques. The Punta Mulas Lighthouse also known as Morropó was built in 1893. This old lighthouse still protects the port, boasts a reflector imported from Paris in 1895, which extends a beam that can be seen from as far as 16 miles. Snorkeling is excellent, especially at Blue Beach. The island is also the home of phosphorescent Mosquito Bay. This rare and remarkable phenomenon is caused by millions of luminescent dinoflagellates lighthing up when disturbed by movement. The dinoflagellates, a tiny form of marine life, have characteristics of both plants and animals, their size range from about 5 to 2,000 micrometres (0.0002 to 0.08 inch). Trips leave every night from the bar at Casa Del Frances (Island Adventures, Inc., (787) 741-0717 or (787) 741-3751). After pressure from the people of Vieques, the U.S. Navy left the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico on May, 2003, after more than 60 years of use as a testing ground. The U.S. Navy came to Vieques in 1941, taking jurisdiction of about 70% (27,000 of the island’s 33,000 acres) of Vieques, which it was used as a training area (target practice with live ammunition and war games). As a result, Vieques has inherited a legacy of toxic pollution. In May of 1999, the U.S. Navy admitted that it had tested radioactive depleted uranium shells in the island. Many in the island blame the high cancer rate (26 percent over Puerto Rico’s average) on the Navy’s pollution. Isabel Segunda port, holds the distinction of being the last fort built by the Spaniards in the New World. There is an excellent historical museum at the beautifully restored fort, El Fortin Conde de Mirasol, located in Isabel Segunda. This fort holds the distinction of being the last fort constructed during the Spanish Empire in the New World, over time also served as a jail. After it’s careful restoration in 1991 by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the fort serves as the island’s main museum, housing the Vieques Museum of Art and History and the Vieques Historic Archives. The museum contains the Vieques Historic Archives, which includes thousands of documents and other materials related to Vieques’ history. Open Wed-Sun 10am - 4pm, weekdays by appointment, free admission (donations are encouraged), (787) 741-1717. To get to the island, you can either take a small plane from San Juan International Airport (20-30 minute flight), or a ferry boat from Fajardo (75-90 minute ferry ride), available four times a day. Fees US$4 round trip, US$2 one way, (787) 8010251. You can also get a flight from St. Croix or St. Thomas (St. Thomas - Fajardo - Vieques).

Bibliography “CHRONOLOGY OF VIEQUES FIGHT.” http://www.vieques-island.com/navy/chrono.html. N.p.. Web. Jan 2013. <http://www.vieques-island. com/navy/chrono.html>. “Environmental Restoration.” Vieques Island, Puerto Rico Installation Restoration Program. N.p.. Web. 7 May 2013. <http://public.lantops-ir. org/sites/public/vieques/environmental/ER.asp&xgt;. “Vieques Island Puerto Rico.” US Environmental Protection Agency. N.p.. Web. 7 May 2013. <http://www.epa.gov/region2/vieques/sectors. htm>. “Vieques.” Welcome to Puerto Rico. Magaly Rivera, n.d. Web. Jan 2013. <http://www.topuertorico.org/city/vieques.shtml>.

Image Sources Pg. 8, 14, 24 N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. May 2013. <http://henakhan.squarespace.com/storage/vieques.jpg?__SQUARESPACE>. Pg. 1,2 N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. May 2013. <http://www.islands.com/files/2012/day_2_san_juan_vieques_villa_casa>. Pg. 4 N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. May 2013. <http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4032/4360566797_606fa43c5e_o.jpg>. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. May 2013. <http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_>. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. May 2013. <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BzKnQ7AUwlw/>. Pg. 5,6 N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. May 2013. <http://zekeweeks.com/wp-content/uploads/Vieques-05.jpg>.

Vieques, Puerto Rico