Facelifts for 228 more Centro facades in next 5 months
Mérida, Yucatán — After a summer break, the second stage of the current downtown facade rescue program heads north toward Parque Santa Ana.
“We know that both Meridanos and national and international tourists enjoy the Historic Center and take away a very positive impression. Hence the importance of continuing to offer a better image of our city,” said Mayor Mauricio Vila Dosal.
When the first stage of the current rescue campaign was completed in May, 89 building fronts were patched and painted for 9 million pesos. Workers focused on Calles 60 and 62, from Parque Santa Lucia to the Plaza Grande.
The second stage heads four blocks north and one block east, to Calle 58 and Santa Lucia Park, encompassing 228 facades for the next five months. The city has set aside 10 million pesos for the work.
The Historic Center has been the focus of numerous projects: Free wifi access across 55 blocks, repairing the famous arches, the restoration of the Manuel Lizama Salazar murals and the maintenance and new lighting of the Monumento a la Patria.
The city also funded new lighting along the Paseo de Montejo, Olimpo Cultural Center renovations, work at the Municipal Palace and also at the Cathedral.
Vila Dosal acknowledged the support from the Patronage for the Preservation of the Historic Center, the Business Coordinating Council, and the hotel and commercial sector.
The director of Urban Development, Aref Karam Espósitos, said that the second stage will involve more façades, although each individual project will tend to be smaller.
The work will consist of applying finishes and paints, and work on cornices and ornaments. Crews will also remove unauthorized advertising or signage that diminishes the look of the buildings.
The budget for the second stage includes labor, materials, work equipment and INAH permits.
Since launching over 20 years ago, more than 1,000 historic properties in the Centro have been given a facelift under the Programa de Rescate de Fachadas del Ayuntamiento de Mérida.
With information from Diario de Yucatán
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