WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao residents could return to parts of the former Sint Elisabeth Hospital complex as early as December as the government begins gradually reopening the long-closed property following its acquisition together with CMC Vastgoed.
Before permanent redevelopment begins, authorities plan to clean the site, improve security and make selected sections of the complex safe and accessible.
The government hopes the first community activities can take place in December, including Misa di Ourora in the former hospital chapel and a Christmas walk around the building.
The activities are expected to connect with initiatives already being organized within Otrobanda.
The plans mark a significant change for a large complex that has remained largely closed since hospital operations moved to the Curaçao Medical Center.
Rather than waiting until a complete redevelopment plan is finalized, the government intends to introduce temporary uses that can gradually bring activity back to the area.
Markets, cultural programming and other temporary activities are among the possibilities being considered. Experiences from those activities could subsequently help shape decisions about the property's permanent use.
Starting in the first quarter of 2027, the government plans to launch a participation process to involve the community in discussions about the future of the former hospital grounds.
That process will be connected to a broader vision for Otrobanda being developed from within the neighborhood itself.
The government says preserving the character of Otrobanda will be central to the redevelopment. The neighborhood has traditionally combined residential life, employment, small businesses, culture and community interaction, and authorities want the former hospital site to reflect that mixture.
Buildings with cultural and historical significance are expected to be incorporated into the plans where possible. The vision also includes publicly accessible areas, greenery and opportunities for local businesses and cultural activities.
A key principle is that the former SEHOS grounds should not remain an isolated enclave. Instead, the site is intended to reconnect with the streets and alleys around it and become part of everyday life in Otrobanda.
The permanent redevelopment will therefore take place in phases, while temporary activities allow residents to begin reclaiming a site that played a central role in Curaçao life for generations.