PIP legislator demands removal of junked vehicles stored at Río Piedras gateway

Puerto Rican Independence Party Rep. Denis Márquez Lebrón

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Rep. Denis Márquez Lebrón has filed a measure that would order the Municipality of San Juan to remove and relocate dozens of motor vehicles currently stored at one of the main entrances to the Río Piedras urban center.

The proposal, House Joint Resolution 401, directs the municipality to clear the vehicles -- many of them damaged or inoperable -- from two lots located on both sides of the entrance to Avenida Ponce de León in Río Piedras.

Márquez Lebrón said the municipal police have turned the area into an improvised storage yard, creating what he described as a hazardous and unsightly accumulation of junked vehicles.

“This situation represents a danger to the health, safety, and environment of those who live, work, and visit the Río Piedras urban center,” he said. “It also contributes to the deterioration of an area that deserves revitalization and constitutes a terrible decision that mars this entrance.”

The legislator emphasized that the historic district contains culturally significant structures, including the Church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the former Río Piedras City Hall, and the Casa de Cultura Ruth Hernández Torres, a hub for community and cultural activity.

He also noted the long-standing relationship between Río Piedras and the University of Puerto Rico, arguing that the surrounding area should offer safe, accessible spaces for students and residents. Márquez Lebrón said the municipality’s decision to maintain “the equivalent of a junkyard” at the gateway undermines ongoing efforts by young entrepreneurs and community groups to repopulate and revive the district.

The resolution orders the Municipality of San Juan to identify alternative locations for the vehicles and to restore the entrance corridor. It also requires the preparation of a report detailing findings and recommendations.