There’s been a lot of activity in various buildings  around Centro lately – some good and some bad.

About a week ago there was a bit of a furor with several properties being remodeled or razed without the authority of INAH. (INAH is the historic preservation organization)

There was a building demolished in Centro.  (below)

The historic Haas home is being redone partially to become the new home of the Carnaval Museum, and they started to break a hole in a wall for a doorway without authorization.  There was a stop work order put on the property until the proper permits could be obtained.  (The Haas family has donated the space for the Museum) (Picture is below.)

The Plazuela Zaragoza has been discussed in the paper recently with regard to a planned renovation. So, when they started work on the Plazuela that included pulling up the battered sidewalks and demolishing the 1950’s kiosko, we didn’t think anything was amiss!  But there weren’t proper permits for that work, either, and a stop work order went up there, too!  After a few days things were ironed out and Paul and I walked by just as they were pulling down one of the kiosko pillars.  First one guy had been pulling on it with a rope and then two other guys ran over (one was in business clothes) and started pushing, and down it came!  (The next two pictures)

Then late Wednesday night the cement canopy over the sidewalk at the Hotel Belmar at Olas Altas fell down with a crash!  It turned out that the metal inside the concrete had severely decayed.  The canopy destruction revealed arches that we hadn’t been aware of, but unfortunately they were covered over when the repairs were made.  (Picture below)

Then, Friday night late many sirens were heard, and in the morning we found out that there had been a fire at the main mercado.  A short circuit started in a clothing store that burned the inventory and then spread, ultimately damaging 14 stores.  The mercado has been in the papers recently as the city has been trying to figure out what to do to improve circulation as there are lots of vendors around the outside that impede pedestrian traffic.  But now it seems that the whole Mercado needs an overhaul, especially the electrical systems. (Picture from the morning after, below)

But on a good note, the house I showed you a month or so ago as about to undergo renovation is going full swing, and a picture is below.  (I couldn’t resist snapping it with the guy straddling the roof!)