Above: San Juan (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico is now courting development partners for the construction of three new models of public housing, according to Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla.

The housing projects would entail the investment of $178 million in federal funding, and could create 2,160 jobs, according to government estimates.

“We are raising the quality of life of future residents with these projects,” Garcia Padilla said.

The three projects are set to begin construction in one year. They are located in the areas of Puerta de Tierra, Hato Rey and Caguas.

They will total 748 new apartments, with 192 in Puerta de Tierra, 152 in Hato Rey and 404 in Caguas.

The plan is to make the developments with lower density and more green space than earlier public housing projects in the country, including “social integration of different sectors of the population with low and moderate incomes in the same project,” Garcia Padilla said.

“The main objectives we seek with the creation of these projects is to promote social integration,” the Governor said. “One of the major commitments of our administration is to foster diverse communities of people looking to improve their quality of life and social welfar.”