Restoring and Rebuilding

The INAH (National Institute of Archaeology and HIstory) is not only spearheading archaeological digs to uncover the remains of the Aztec city which lie hidden below the streets and buildings of Mexico City.  They are also in charge of the gargantuan task of preserving the vast number of buildings which are deemed to be of historic importance.  In the Historic Center alone there are over 1,500 such structures.

While walking around the Historic Center I spotted one colonial building which is being renovated with the help of the INAH.  

 Although there are shops on the ground floor, the upper floors appear to be abandoned.

The banner says that the INAH is supervising the rescue of this building.  "¡Recuperemos juntos nuestro patrimonio cultural!"  "Together let us recover our cultural patrimony!" 

 

The city still bears the scars of the 2017 earthquake.  Along Juárez Avenue, a nondescript, eight-story building has stood vacant since that quake.  At long last that building has been demolished, and, judging from the sound of jackhammers that I could hear from behind the barricade, construction of a new building has begun.  

Just next door was a lovely piece of architecture dating, I would judge, from the 1800s.  Now there is not much left except for the façade.  I do hope that when something is finally built on that piece of prime real estate, that the INAH requires that the builder incorporate that façade into the new structure.