SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, Gto.- Currently, authorities of San Miguel de Allende seek to transform several streets of the historic center into a pedestrian walkway. However, citizens and civil organizations oppose to this project, claiming that it is an ‘attack’ against UNESCO’s World Heritage.
The work has been named ‘‘Revitalización de andador en Calle Aldama y prolongación de Calle Aldama en el centro histórico de San Miguel de Allende’ (Revitalization of walkway at “Aldama” and prolongacion de “Aldama” in the historical center of San Miguel de Allende).
Works at San Miguel de Allende’s downtown streets (Photo: Periodico Correo)
According to a document, signed by the Director of Public Works, Felipe Tapia Campos, the streets that are intended to be turned into pedestrian walkways have to undergo through paving works, and the project also includes bicycle lanes.
The document was submitted before the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu).
A few days ago, Mayor Ricardo Villarreal announced this project that seeks to turn several downtown streets into pedestrian walkways, during a ceremony where the Nemesio Diez’ statue was unveiled, on the street that bears the same name.
Municipal sources pointed out that the intention of this work is to continue promoting wedding tourism, as well as to benefit some hoteliers in the area.
The streets that would be closed and modified are: “Aldama Street”, “Prolongación Aldama” and “Ancha de San Antonio”, in order to generate a pedestrian zone that takes place from the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel to the Parque Juárez and along luxury hotels zone.
Aldama Street (Google)
“The controversy”
Residents of San Miguel de Allende and civil associations have shown their displeasure by the work, since they say, this project would modify the ‘essence’ of the city.
Several organizations have complained against this project as well, sending letters to UNESCO, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the Ministry of Culture, in which they request their intervention to avoid this modification of the downtown’s urban image.
The associations that have expressed their disagreement are “Observatorio Ciudadano”, “Va por San Miguel”, “El Charco del Ingenio Jardín Botánico”, and “Amigos del museo de San Miguel de Allende”.
“The project allegedly seeks to improve the image of SMA”
“The main goal of this project is to improve the image of certain streets, such as “Aldama Street”, as well as provide it with maintenance services”, said the municipality in a statement.
Municipal authorities pointed out that “This project that has caused controversy and discomfort among citizens and in civil organizations, emerged as a necessity of street maintenance in both pavement and hydraulic infrastructure for the downtown area”.
Calle Ancha de San Antonio in the 60s (Google)
The statement also said: “With these works, we will allow pedestrians, senior citizens and people with dissabilities to enjoy our historic center in a better way”.
“By reducing the number of vehicles in the historic center, we are contributing to reduce air pollution, and besides the construction of parking lots in all the entrances of the city is being contemplated. There will be more than 1,000 parking spaces available” the statement concluded.
Source: http://periodicocorreo.com.mx/
