Downtown rehabilitation project announced

Mexicali Mayor-elect Marina Ávila announced plans for downtown rehabilitation.

The proposal was discussed during a meeting held days ago in Tijuana with Gov.-elect Jaime Bonilla and incoming Secretary of Economic Development Mario Escobedo.

According to Avila, the project aims to attract investment while improving public safety and tourism.

The goal, she added, is to take advantage of the area’s food, cultural and artistic advantages. The Mayor-elect held a meeting Tuesday with downtown merchants to listen to proposals and concerns. Also, Ávila showed a video of her visit to the pedestrian crossing in the downtown port of entry.

Gov.-elect Bonilla endorsed the plan, which would use local, state and federal funds.

According to Bonilla’s office, the project is being run by Assemblyman Carlos Torres, a Tijuana lawmaker who just resigned from the governing National Action Party.

This is not the first effort to rehabilitate the downtown area. Every local administration typically makes some attempt to improve the area, which is home to hotels, medical offices, a Catholic Church Cathedral and the Chinese zone known as La Chinesca.

Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco announced months ago the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Chinatown project that has been delayed since for unknown reasons.

Bonilla said the area seems abandoned and has become a refuge for people with mental health issues.