Santiago de Cuba Ushers In the New Year with Urban Makeover
New billboards with elements related to Santiago de Cuba’s culture and history are going to be posted on the main avenues of the city to welcome the year when the colonial village will celebrate half a millennium of its foundation.
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During a tour carried out by the top political authorities of the territory they learned that the nine large posters are to be ready in early January 2015, also paying tribute to the 62nd anniversary of the assault to Moncada Barracks.
The authorities realized that, although the construction of the modern avenue from Mayor General Antonio Maceo Revolution Square to Santa Ifigenia Heritage Cemetery is on the go, the is work not being done as fast as it should.
That’s the reason why the authorities urged the workers to speed up and underlined that every state entity located in the avenue will be in charge of beautifying the façade design.
Lázaro Expósito Canto, First Party Secretary in the province, said that the avenue will be very organized, clean and pointed out the importance of counting on the support of the people.
The project of the state-of-the-art Juan Gualberto Gómez – Flor Crombet Avenue will favor over 800 houses nestled in that artery, some of which were damaged by hurricane Sandy in October 2012. These people will be supported by the institutions involved in the works.
Ferreiro Square is also being repaired as part of the projects in Santiago de Cuba, as it is going to be turned into a Cultural Complex.
Tania Fernández Chaveco, Provincial Director of Culture, commented that three sales outlets and the provincial council of Fine Arts will be based in the area.
She added that there will be four expo-sale areas, with works of Santiago-born artists such as Ruano, Israel Tamayo, Zeilán and José Luis Toledo, as well as other pieces chosen by other authors.
"We’ll also have an Artex store, the biggest one in the province, where all Arte en Casa products will be sold, including gastronomic products with artistic presentation", Fernández said.
This cultural complex will feature a store, bakery-candy store, ice-cream parlor and pizzeria. At the last one, patrons will enjoy a novel experience in Cuba, since the furniture, tablecloth and all elements can be acquired by the customers.
"I mean that we’re going to taste an excellent pizza, but we can also buy everything. And the Cuban Fund of Cultural Goods will be in charge of restoring the items as the clients buy them", the director pointed out.
The former seat of the Provincial Headquarter of Computing Young Clubs was also visited. A new area for direct contact with telecommunications is being built here. The "Candy Park" will also be in the area, a children playground that will feature carts, toys and cafeteria-candy shop. Young people can visit this center and access the internet through the Wi-Fi service.
Likewise, "El Pekín" restaurant will be refurbished to join Santiago de Cuba’s Specialized Gastronomy Company. With capacity to seat 56 patrons, the center will have a higher level and picture-perfect view of the city.
