INAH Suspends Construction at Mérida’s Plaza Grande Over New Benches

México’s Institute of Anthropology and History has stopped construction in Mérida’s Plaza Grande.

The issue has been reported to be the modern aesthetic of new benches the city has begun to install in the iconic plaza.

According to INAH, these new benches simply do not fit with the historic feel of this nearly 500-year-old plaza, and many locals appear to agree with this.

“These don’t look like they belong. There is nothing wrong with them at a mall or somewhere like that, but they just don’t fit here,” Julieta Martinez, a local resident, commented on Facebook.

The city or state government has not said when the issue will be resolved or under what conditions work will be allowed to resume. 

Earlier: Big Facelift for Already Beautiful Mérida’s Plaza Grande

As it happens, there seems to be a consensus among Mérida residents that the Plaza Grande refits are simply an excuse to use up funds before the end of the current government this fall. 

Aside from the annoyances of construction, residents and media outlets have been quick to ask what the benefit of this redesign is, as the Plaza Grande was already quite beautiful and in good shape overall.

The government’s main argument is that this redesign is focused on making the space cooler and greener by adding plenty of trees. But in fact, most of the large trees on the plaza have now been cut down, prompting general anger among residents. 

“The entire reason they said they were doing this was so that there would be more tree shade in the plaza, but they have cut down almost all of the beautiful old trees that were once there, it defies logic,” said Julain Soza on an Instagram post by the state government promoting the redesign.