Cont. from front page,

In an interview with Atención, González Vázquez explained that the Biennial of Architecture is an opportunity to recognize and promote the work of architects.

Awards are bestowed in several categories, such as tourism, services and recreation, offices, and restoration, among others. The Golden Profile is separate and more prestigious than the awards given in these categories. 

About Casa de Aves, he said that it is an ecological project and that it is completely integrated into the site. “We used materials found at the site to the extent possible.

All the walls are built of adobe mixed from soil along the edge of the Laja River, which runs through the site, by people from the community,” said González, who considers this aspect very important, since the owners, Don Gustavo Spínolo and his wife, Doña Leticia Serrano, conceived the project to stimulate the local economy. “Currently, all the employees of the hotel are residents from nearby communities,” he said. 

All the roofs of the hotel are made of reeds also obtained from the edge of the river, along with wood. “The hotel was built on a hill, and when we did the soil study, we found that we had a depth of at least 3 meters of gravel and sand. This meant that I could lay the foundations at a depth of one meter. The construction is thus semi-buried, which confers several advantages for guests of the hotel. The soil insulates the structure, so the rooms are warm during the cold season and cool during the hot season,” said the architect. “All the gravel and sand for the construction was obtained from the excavation made for the foundations. We only bought cement, iron and lime.”

The owners’ house is also the access to the hotel, so the two structures needed to harmonize. González said that Casa de Aves was not conceived as a common hotel with thousands of rooms. “From the beginning, I conceived it as a series of houses that mimicked the surroundings, and as one walks around the site they appear little by little, as a surprise, touching your spirit.”

In addition to the use of local materials, González used the position of the sun to design a building perfectly fitted to the natural and social environment, according to the style of life of San Miguel, where people come to enjoy a quiet place away from the madding crowd.

“That was what my client requested, and I think it was achieved. It is important that the architect work in harmony with his client to achieve a goal, and Don Gustavo and I did.”

To construct the hotel González used Catenaria vaults, inspired by the architecture of Antoni Gaudí, to avoid the use of buttresses. Catenaria vaults, as opposed to other kind of vaults, do not generate lateral force and buttresses are not needed. 

As an architect, González thinks that it is necessary to create structures appropriate to San Miguel’s style but that are also appropriate to our times and to new technologies. He thinks Casa de Aves is a blend of these two goals. 

González insists that Casa de Aves was a team effort. Rossana Spínolo, the owner’s daughter, who has a master’s degree in art, designed the interior, accented with paintings by José Luis and Felipe de la Torre.

Don Gustavo’s wife, Doña Leticia, worked on the landscape architecture. Construction on the hotel took up all of 2006. González designed the hotel over the course of three months in 2005. 

González comes from a very close San Miguel family that includes six children. He studied architecture at the Tecnológico of Querétaro, where he won a national architecture student contest. Thanks to the contest, he got in touch with the renowned architect Abraham Zabludovsky, brother of the famous Mexican journalist Jacobo Zabludovsky. “I worked with Zabludovsky for a year, and I learned from him all that I could. Then, I began working by myself.”

Don Gustavo Spínolo contacted him during an exhibition of local architects, members of the Union of Architects of San Miguel, that took place at Museo Casa de Allende. “He liked my work and he trusted in me. I am very thankful to him for giving me the opportunity,” said González. 

Questioned about his opinion of the new buildings that are being constructed in some areas of San Miguel, González said that it is necessary to leave traces of our times in the current architectural style and not to simply copy old styles.

However, he believes San Miguel’s atmosphere should be taken into consideration in every project.

Currently, González has his own office, is vice-president of the Union of Architects of San Miguel and teaches architecture at the University of León. 

Deadline for paying property taxes draws near
By Jesús Ibarra

Property taxes constitute the single most important income for San Miguel’s local government, as well as for most municipalities in the country. In Mexico, taxes are regulated by articles 8 through 20 of the legislative decree number 776 of the Municipal Tribute Law.

Taxes are levied based on the value of urban or rural properties, including the land itself and any dwellings or other buildings thereon. 

According to Eduardo Soria, head of the local Treasury Department, the office in charge of collecting property taxes in San Miguel, this tax represents 45 percent of the local government’s own income. “The local government receives incomes from the Federation, the State and from itself. The 45 percent of the latter comes from property taxes.” The income from these taxes is used to pay for public services such as police, traffic officers, public lighting, trash collection and street repair, among other things. 

Assessment of property values

Taxes for properties are assessed according to the tariffs established and authorized by the state congress. Soria explained that the amount one pays depends on the size of the lot, the constructed area, the type of construction, the location of the property and the use of the site, either commercial or residential. Each municipality is autonomous regarding the collection of property taxes. 

“Commercial property taxes are higher than residential taxes,” said Soria, who explained that in the case of shopping centers such as La Luciérnaga the payments depend on the agreement. “If the commercial sites are already sold, the owner has to pay individually for the site.”

Residential areas such as Los Frailes, El Atascadero or Centro have the highest residential taxes, varying from 2,000 to more than 10,000 pesos in some cases. Soria explained that two houses in close proximity can be taxed completely different amounts, one much lower than the other, depending on the size of the land, on the building, and in some cases on the owner him- or herself. “If a Mexican owner is retired and does not have much money, he can appeal through a formal letter for our lower tax, which is 190 pesos a year, and we will study the case. If the person fulfills certain requirements, we will apply the minimum tax to his property,” said Soria. He added that the property tax does not depend on the owner’s nationality, so the fact of being a foreigner does not generate an increase in the tax. 

He mentioned that in recent years the property tax has increased 4 percent a year, which is proportional to inflation and salary increases. The same increase has been reported in the nearby municipalities of Celaya and Querétaro, but this is not the case in Mexico City, whose property taxes have increased in some cases up to 300 percent, inciting protests by some Mexico City residents. 

The head of the Treasury Department said that all real estate owners, whether urban or rural, must pay property taxes. If the property does not have a deed but the owner has a document proving he is the owner, he must pay the property tax. If an owner does not register the property on the Official Land Register, and thereby attempts to avoid paying property taxes, he or she risks punitive action by the department. Properties without deeds are irregular and the owners must bring them into compliance with the law. 

“In San Miguel, we have about 40,000 registered properties, and this year we have a goal of collecting 50 million pesos from property taxes. We have already exceeded half of that amount. Residents have complied with the law, and this allows us to continue improving public services,” said Soria. 

He explained that he knows from previous years’ experience that the goal will not be reached by the February 29 deadline for paying property taxes, but it will be by the end of the year.

When and where to pay

Soria said that property taxes in San Miguel are normally assessed every two months but that there is a 15 percent discount for paying the entire annual amount in advance, before February 29. 

Taxes can be paid at the administrative building on Salida a Querétaro, at the former Presidencia building at Plaza Principal 8 across from the Jardín, or at Banorte (either in Centro on calle San Francisco or at La Luciérnaga), Banco del Bajío located on Salida a Celaya or though the local government’s website, www.sanmiguelallende.gob.mx, where a link to Bancomer is available to pay by credit card. 

Soria recommends that members of the foreign community who have questions about where, when or how to pay their property taxes, or how much they owe come to the Treasury Department offices on the second floor of the administrative building to ask for advice. “We have learned that some people have offered to help foreigners pay their property taxes have instead deceived them. When we receive payment the property owner is given an official receipt. These people are giving out invalid or false receipts.” The Treasury Department offices are open from 8:30am to 4pm. 

Whynmans receive Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award
By Jesús Ibarra

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday presented its First Annual San Miguel Rotary Citizen of the Year Award on February 12 to Saul and Linda Whynman at Hotel Real de Minas. The award is given to the San Miguel resident or couple who have best exemplified the ideals of community service during the year.

The Whynmans moved to San Miguel from New York four years ago. Both left behind careers as teachers, and since arriving in San Miguel they have been involved in many worthy organizations such as Audubon and Casita Linda. Both teach English classes in their home for local adults and children in their neighborhood. Saul served a one-year term as treasurer of the Biblioteca Pública, and Linda contributes to various organizations such as El Charco del Ingenio and is a director of the San Miguel Garden Club.

After receiving the award from Gordon Logan, Rotary president, Saul and Linda thanked the Rotary Club, and Saul said that “of all the things we fell in love with in this community, the most important was the tangible spirit of generosity and the visible act of giving back. We are impressed, moved and felt at home with the degree of selflessness and volunteerism in San Miguel.

San Miguel is full of warm, generous souls who feel the need and are lucky enough to be able to give thanks to our community for our rich and satisfying lives. Linda and I feel happy and proud to accept this award on behalf of all other hard-working and selfless volunteers in San Miguel who help to make such a loving community.” 

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday was chartered in June 2005 with the specific purpose of identifying legitimate needs in our regional community and publicizing these needs to Rotary Clubs in English-speaking countries for consideration in their International Service Project.  

Once a foreign club adopts a project, the Rotary Club of San Miguel works with that club to administrate the gift or grant locally.

According to Gordon Logan and David Bossman, a member of the Rotary Club of San Miguel, one of the current main projects of the club is the donation of two machines used in the treatment of diabetes, a severe health problem in Mexico, especially in this area, where 13 percent of the population suffers from diabetes and 10 percent of those are in danger of losing their eyesight. The two machines are a diagnostic camera with an approximate value of US$20,000 and a laser machine for repairing ocular damage and saving eyesight, with a value of US$32,000. Both machines will be donated to General Hospital Felipe C. Dobarganes. 

Who regulates taxis?
By Gabriela Blanco

Taxis are a public transportation alternative in San Miguel. Some taxi drivers are accused of arbitrary rates or impoliteness to passengers. Atención inquired about taxi regulation in San Miguel and found that taxis are not regulated by the municipality, but by the state government. Delegate Salvador Navarro said that taxis are supervised by the Delegación de Tránsito de Estado de Guanajuato. He’s new to the job, so doesn’t yet know about taxi regulation. The state transit delegation in Guanajuato and their Social Communication Coordinator did not reply to inquiries. After 25 phone calls over three weeks with no results, one might conclude that no one is in charge or else no one knows anything. We decided to interview taxi drivers here directly.

How much should you pay for a taxi?

Some taxi drivers charge according to distance or the dejada, the distance between where the taxi is boarded and the destination. The minimum rate is 20 pesos and the drivers decide the total charge. For example, someone taking a taxi from Centro to Fraccionamiento Insurgentes can pay 25 to 35 pesos, depending on the driver’s practice. Taxi driver Oscar (33) said the highest charge is 40 pesos, but that depends on the distance and the time of day.

Taxi owner Ruben (56) said there is no “highest rate.” Drivers can charge 100–150 pesos if the destination is a nearby town late at night. “If the service is during the night, you will come back without a passenger, so we have to consider that charge in the bill, as well as the risk.”

Taxi proprietor Hector suggests you arrange the fee with the driver when you take the cab, because “this way people will not feel mistreated or abused.”

New Red Cross ambulances 
By Gabriela Blanco

Mexican Red Cross, Fundación Azteca and the Nacional Monte de Piedad funds ambulances for Mexico on a matching basis. Last year’s national goal was to obtain 80 ambulances, each costing 500,000 pesos. The matching funds update was on December 31.

The Red Cross delegation that collects 250,000 pesos obtains an ambulance. The Mexican Red Cross raised half and then Fundacion Azteca and El Nacional Monte de Piedad would match the money to reach the total of 500,000 for each ambulance. 

The San Miguel Red Cross will receive two ambulances to augment its current four, thanks to donations of 500,000 pesos over two months. However, the new ambulances have only the basic equipment and the Red Cross needs an additional 250,000 pesos for oxygen, stretchers, medication and medical staff.

The local Red Cross responds to emergencies in San Miguel as well as Comonfort, Dr. Mora, Salida a Celaya and the Dolores and Querétaro freeways, according to coordinator Dr. Jose Gonzalez Guadalupe. They cover 95 percent of the 60 emergencies per week for a total of 2,880 each year.

Dr. González said this vital institution collected only 78,000 pesos last year, an amount covering just one and a half months of expenses. The municipal government subsidizes the Red Cross for 30 percent of their monthly fixed cost, but the board of directors and volunteers are responsible for obtaining the donations to survive.

We do not know when we may need the services of this altruistic institution, so this is a call to all San Miguel people to donate in the annual fundraising campaign March 3–17. Volunteers wearing the characteristic vest will be on the streets collecting money in Red Cross boxes and they will give you a sticker with the organization’s logo.

Bingo in the Los Milagros restaurant on Relox every Tuesday, 6–8pm, also benefits the Red Cross. You can play for only 10 pesos and the prizes are attractive, ranging from cash to dinner in some of the best restaurants in San Miguel.