FORUMS & LETTERS

Editor,

In mid-October, 2008, a large group of residents assembled in front of a massive steel frame, erected on Fray Juan de San Miguel between Calle del Angel and Calle de Malinche, in Villa de los Frailes to protest the construction of what was ostensibly a future “health club” in a 99 percent residential area. With nearly a quarter of a million cubic feet under roof, this is the largest commercial structure ever erected in a residential area in the nearly 500-year history of San Miguel de Allende(!).

Although it was invited to cover this event of citizen action, Atención declined to do so.

Despite having been officially signed “Obra Suspendida” for months, and despite numerous visits of citizen groups to Desarrollo Urbano in the Presidencia Municipal, work has continued, illegally, virtually nonstop. The noise of steel hammers on steel beams is deafening and can be heard for blocks around. Four new “Obra Suspendida” signs were put up on December 15. Nonetheless, illegal work continued unabated through midday on December 19, when the signs mysteriously disappeared. The banging continued over the weekend, Sunday included.

Architects resident in Los Frailes and neighboring La Cañada had been shown different elevations and alternatives proposed by the owners of the gimnasio. The community representatives, the Sub-Director of Desarrollo Urbano, and a representative of the College of Architects of the Municipio of San Miguel found all alternatives unacceptable.

The poorly executed plans showed no ventilation in the exercise or sports rooms, no fire exits, no drainage system, no septic system, and no drainage field.

The owner’s claim that there was off-street parking for 22 cars was contradicted by an absence of adequate space to maneuver into parking and the further fact that there is no vehicular access whatsoever to the building on the owner’s property(!).

A health club should be healthy, but this one is not only hazardous to the health of the community, but, lacking ventilation, adequate drainage, and emergency exits, hazardous to the health of its future users as well. This flagrant violation of municipal laws, design codes and standards is a dangerous precedent for Los Frailes, the entire city, and its people. Therefore, this letter is a plea for solidarity on the part not just of the residents of Villa de los Frailes and neighboring La Cañada, but for all of San Miguel de Allende as well.

Union de Residentes de Villa de Los Frailes  




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