Under Construction

In spite of the recession which had begun in Mexico even before the pandemic, the construction boom has not ground down to a complete halt.

Just a couple blocks from my apartment by the Metrobus stop there was an office building under construction.  The last time I was here in the winter of 2020 construction on the project had halted and there was a big sign saying that work had been suspended by the government.  That usually means that there was some violation of the construction code.  Now work on the building has resumed.  Either the problem was resolved or somebody was bribed.

On the Paseo de la Reforma work continues on the restoration of the iconic Monument to Independence, commonly referred to as "El Angel".

I would not want to be one of those construction workers up there on the scaffolding!

I continued down Reforma to the cluster of some of the city's tallest skyscrapers.  Those are three separate buildings down there, not one. Toward the front is Torre Reforma, the tallest building in Mexico City at 801 feet in height.  It was completed in 2016.

Just beyond the Torre Reforma are the Torre Mayor (right) and Chapultepec Uno (left) standing almost cheek to cheek.

The Torre Mayor used to be the city's tallest building, but it has fallen to fourth place.

Chapultepec Uno was nearing completion that last time I was here.  With 57 stories, it is now the second tallest building.  I wanted to see if work was finished and if it was now occupied.

At the base of the skyscraper the escalators were functioning, and I saw a few people entering.  I asked the policeman that you see in the picture if work was complete.  He said that work continues on the interior, although there are a few offices that are already occupied.  In six months he said that the Ritz Carlton Hotel will occupy a portion of the structure.  I asked him if there were plans to open an observation deck at the top.  The view of the Paseo de la Reforma and nearby Chapultepec Park would be spectacular.  He said no, but there are plans for a restaurant to open on the top floor... probably a very expensive restaurant.