THE HOMELAND | Anserma
The building has been built for 60 years Anserma Market Squarea three-story building that houses meat, vegetable and fruit vendors, as well as clothing vendors, bakeries, granaries, radio and television workshops.
However, 30% of the property is unoccupied and in poor condition Due to the lack of maintenance in their electrical networks as well as in their aqueduct and sewage networks.
The passage of time has taken its toll on this point in the municipality located between Carreras 4, 5 and 6 and Calles 10 and 11. Today the vast majority of its commercial areas are without electricity and poorly distributed. However, another panorama is reflected on the outskirts of the gallery.
A busy commercial activity developed in its surroundings. with all kinds of establishments and local transportation has bays located on the perimeter of the Market Square so that those who arrive in the area have a way to get around after comparing their products.
The area designated for the sale of meat is currently uninhabited due to health problems.
Municipal proposal
In the current conditions The Market Square became a burden for the municipalitysince some tenants of small premises do not pay the rent while others left debts accumulated for several years.
Ómar Andrés Reina, mayor of Anserma, during his campaign for the first municipal position, spoke of remodel and reactivate the Market Square. When asked the reason for this intervention, he expressed: “It is the most important building in the municipality, the commercial heart of Anserma today only occupies 30% of its capacity, it has health problems and in fact the meat sellers left because of this situation. In addition, the food sales area is at risk of suffering from the same conditions. We want to place all the food modules on the second levelto function as a large surface by building ramps that facilitate entry.”
He added that The project also includes modules on the third floor for entrepreneurs and have a large parking area, as well as a better distribution of public space in its surroundings.
Some places in the Market Square only provide a service to store street stalls and wheelbarrows.
The investment
According to the mayor, there is a preliminary project prepared by the National University of Manizales and that The investment will be between $3,500 million and $4,500 million. For this reason, for its financing, it will present it with studies and designs to Finagro, in the line that that entity has for this type of productive structures.
He assured that Once they have the studies and designs, they will socialize the project with the merchants of the Market Square as well as with the rest of the community to begin the works, if the deadlines are met, at the end of this year or the beginning of 2025.
No trauma
A critical point in this restructuring will be the relocation of the merchants from the Market Square.
Regarding this case, the president said: “This will be determined by the studies, We will probably initially vacate the third floor to do top-down work and in the spaces that are unoccupied today the first interventions would be made to then mobilize and relocate the merchants there. Our commitment will be that there is no interruption in the activity of merchants that today occupy the premises”.
Although the corridors have been improved, the stalls of the different businesses remain in the past.
with the merchants
Rafael Naranjo, meat seller
I have been in this place for more than 40 years. Regarding the intervention that is planned to be carried out, I am very incredulous that work will be carried out since no one has come to socialize what works are going to be carried out. I don’t see where they are going to relocate us, that would be a problem.
Fabio Nelson Ladino, fruit and vegetable seller
I have been here for 35 years and I had to adapt the premises I occupy today. I made a significant investment and if they relocate me, who will answer me? I agree that the Plaza needs to be repaired, but no one has come to tell us anything. Yes, we would have to ensure that the place to which we are transferred is safe.
Lucila Castro, food vendor
I have been running a food stand for 23 years. There would be no problem if they moved us temporarily, but we would return to the same remodeled place. I do not agree, according to what they say, with the meals being located on the second level of the Plaza. Nobody has brought us together to learn about the idea or the project to be able to give an opinion with those who will do the studies.
Fact
The Market Square replaced the market with awnings and street stalls that operated in the same place.
If the project can be carried out, this is what the Anserma Market Square would look like.
