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Chancellor

I thought this was an interesting article. Nice to see DF get some good press for a change.

http://news.msn.com/world/mexico-city-beautifies-itself-in-public-space-makeover

I like the way the monument pictured in the article turned out (I visited DF in May 2012 and stayed at a hotel about a block from the monument).

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

The changes have been non-stop for a decade now, I'd say starting with the complete renovation of the centro historico. It was dark, dank, and dangerous when I got here 12 years ago but now bustles with outdoor cafes and hordes of tourists.

Thanks for the link to this article...I'd been wondering what exactly they were putting up in the Glorieta Insurgentes.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:17 am Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject:

ton a bricks · Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 56 Location: Mexico City

I think it is interesting to point out that lots of what makes Mexico City Mexico City are the things that are being done away with. The Alameda now is not allowing the dance activities that were a chance for locals to enjoy each other's company in a no-cost or low-cost context. Isn't this "renovation" also kind of about gentrification and pushing long time residents into the margins so that middle class people can take over their old haunts? The pedestrian walkway on Francisco Madero (Mistakenly named Gustavo Madero in the article) is nice in terms of being free of cars. But as far as being an example of Mexican culture, it is not very different from the modern pedestrian "malls" found anywhere where else in the world.

And the renovation of Plaza Garibaldi is a particularly sore point with me. I mean, turning a real historic plaza with a continuous link to the past into a non-descript modern site where the musicians seem to be an afterthought just doesn't make sense. Aren't there enough soulless modern consumer-driven places around that they don't have to sacrifice all of their historic cultural heritage just to make middle class tourists feel like they can go and spend their money in zones of the city that they used to avoid because of them being too representative of "the other" Mexico?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Good points, TaB...

But, I think the character of this city and its places can't be nailed down to one specific area...things change, and change again. Then again. The centro historico for example, experienced a serious decline in the 80's and 90's especially after the '85 quake. I think it looks much better restored to pre-85 with whatever modern updates have come. It's alive again.

I follow this great page on facebook called La Ciudad de Mexico en el Tiempo...

http://www.facebook.com/laciudaddemexicoeneltiempo?ref=ts&fref=ts

Photos and historical tidbits from the last century and more.

Turning Madero into a pedestrian only street is a great example - city planners here since the 50's and 60's have focused way too much on the automobile. It completely took over the culture here, pushing out everything else. I've long hoped they would make the entire centro historico pedestrian only, or car-free at least. How can one enjoy the splendor of the architecture there if you're just driving through?