The Puerto Rico Senate is considering a resolution to study the possibility of reopening Roosevelt Roads as a military base. “For decades, Roosevelt Roads represented an economic engine for the eastern region of the island,” said Senator Nitza Morán Trinidad, one of the legislators who introduced the resolution. “Today, we have a responsibility to seriously and strategically consider the possibility of its facilities once again playing a key role — not only in the defense of the Caribbean and the Americas but also in the economic revitalization of Ceiba and the surrounding municipalities.”
What is Roosevelt Roads?
Roosevelt Roads is a former United States Navy base located in the town of Ceiba on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. It was a major military installation and one of the largest naval facilities in the world. The base’s development was first suggested by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1919, when he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy. It was commissioned in 1943, during World War II. The base served as a critical support facility for the Atlantic Fleet and as a tactical hub for training maneuvers in the region.
Roosevelt Roads also provided jobs and economic support for the region for 60 years.
The U.S. Navy formally ceased military operations and closed the base on March 31, 2004. The closure was influenced by mounting public pressure following the death of a civilian during the controversial use of the nearby island of Vieques for military training exercises.
Since its closure, the sprawling 8,650-acre property has been undergoing a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) disposal process. Some land has been transferred to the government of Puerto Rico and some to the National Guard and other U.S. federal agencies. Some sections are still used for military training exercises. A significant amount of land has been designated a wetlands preserve. A portion of the site now operates as the José Aponte de la Torre Airport, a public-use airport.
Much of the land is available for private sale. There have been several different much-heralded plans for investment, but they have not materialized. One example is this Call for Proposals for a space launch site. The deadline was in February, 2025. It may still be in active development. Other proposal requests over the years have included a mixed-income residential, hospitality, and golf course plan and a research and innovation center.
Who is responsible for the former base?
The Local Redevelopment Authority for Roosevelt Roads (LRA), a government entity of Puerto Rico, is responsible for the redevelopment of a large portion of the property. The agency is in theory implementing a re-use plan called the 2014 Master Plan. According to the LRA website, “The LRA’s mission is to promote the full redevelopment of its lands and facilities, in collaboration with the communities and the private sector. Also, the LRA seeks to create jobs and promote the economic growth in the eastern region of Puerto Rico to counteract the effects of the closure of the former base in 2004.”
It has been more than two decades since the job was begun and more than one decade since the Master Plan was expected to be realized, so it is clear that the task is not an easy one. Many calls for proposals have been issued and individuals have applied for permits to buy land and build but have been turned down.
Local social media suggests a degree of frustration that has led to a willingness to allow the military to reopen the base, though there are also people who would like to see the entire property left wild.
