VRM Companies will unveil 'A Orillas del Río', a sculpture by Puerto Rican artist Luis Torruella, on Thursday, June 18 at the Club House area of The River Village in Ciudad Jardín Gurabo. The event, scheduled for 5:30 p.m., is expected to draw more than 300 residents, along with Gurabo Mayor Vilmarie Peña, the artist, and VRM executives, as a celebration of the community's rebirth from years of abandonment.
For nearly 15 years, Ciudad Jardín Gurabo suffered from neglect, with over 500 families trapped in an environment of ruined facilities and declining property values. The Golf Club House, owned by third parties, sat vandalized and unused, alongside an abandoned golf course and deteriorated courts. In 2021, VRM Companies began a comprehensive transformation, executed during a pandemic and amid historic construction cost inflation, aimed at restoring dignity and value to the entire community.
A key achievement was the rescue of the Golf Club House, now called The River Village. VRM transferred its ownership to the Master Association of Owners, returning control to residents and turning the structure into a hub for businesses and services. The abandoned courts were replaced with a new Racket Club featuring tennis, pickleball, and beach tennis. The entrance booth was expanded and modernized, and common areas were completely rehabilitated.
The impact extended to both new and existing families. When VRM arrived, Ciudad Jardín had about 519 families; today, more than 1,000 families enjoy a first-class community, thanks to the delivery of resort-style homes in the River Terrace, River View, and River Estates complexes. These complexes represent affordable housing options for the middle class, with average prices ranging around $300,000 and $400,000, despite rising construction costs.
Rafael E. Rojo, President and CEO of VRM Companies, stated, 'At VRM Companies, we believe that good development is one that not only benefits those who buy a home, but elevates a place for the benefit of an extended community. Today, Gurabo has a first-class destination that, while enhancing community life, attracts commercial activity, strengthens the tax base, and projects an image of progress for the entire region.'
The sculpture 'A Orillas del Río', with free and flowing lines forming the letter 'R', symbolizes the community's transformation: Rescue of an abandoned project, Resilience in adverse times, and Rebirth in harmony with nature.
