Cali Center: Old Theaters Demolished for New Construction
- Cali is embarking on an aspiring project to revitalize its historic center, focusing on creating new spaces for public interaction and cultural enrichment.
- The intervention at the old cinemas 1 and 2 site is designed to create "a new space in one of the most emblematic sites in the center...
- Diego Andrés Giraldo, director of the Departamento Administrativo de Planeación de Cali, emphasized the importance of this intervention.
Cali’s Historic Center too Undergo revitalization with new Public Space
Table of Contents
- Cali’s Historic Center too Undergo revitalization with new Public Space
- Cali’s Historic Center Revitalization: Q&A on the New Public Space Project
- What is the revitalization project in Cali’s historic center?
- Why is this project important for Cali?
- What are the main goals of the Cali historic center revitalization?
- What are the planned features of the renovated space?
- What new attractions and benefits for visitors can be expected?
- how was the project’s development managed to preserve cultural and heritage values?
- What role did the Ministerio de Cultura play in the approval process?
- how will the project benefit Cali citizens?
- Key Project Details
- What does this mean for the future of Cali’s Historic Center?
Cali is embarking on an aspiring project to revitalize its historic center, focusing on creating new spaces for public interaction and cultural enrichment. The initiative centers around the property located on calle 10, between Bulevar del Río and Carrera 3, the former site of Cinemas 1 and 2.
A Key Project for Historic Center Recovery
The intervention at the old cinemas 1 and 2 site is designed to create “a new space in one of the most emblematic sites in the center of Cali.” According to the Administration, this project is a cornerstone of the historic center recovery plan spearheaded by Cali’s Mayor, Alejandro Eder.
Planning Department Highlights Importance
Diego Andrés Giraldo, director of the Departamento Administrativo de Planeación de Cali, emphasized the importance of this intervention.
This is a proposal of intervention to start that recovery of our historic center and complying with those goals proposed by the Plan Especial de Manejo y Protección del Centro Histórico, the PEMP.
Diego Andrés Giraldo, Director, Departamento Administrativo de Planeación de Cali
The renovation project aims to create a platform overlooking the river, along with “a first floor open to the public that will connect directly with this boulevard.” The plans also include an open-air cinema, envisioned as a space for both locals and tourists.
Visitors will be able to enjoy not onyl the conventional boulevard, the salsa street, and the proximity to the river but also new attractions. The district administration hopes to offer a new interaction and economic and cultural activation through cinema.
Heritage Council and project Development
The project’s development began with a process before the Consejo Distrital de Patrimonio, wich includes the Departamento de Planeación and the Secretaría de Cultura, through the Subdirección del Patrimonio. During this phase, all intervention proposals were evaluated in the context of cultural and heritage assets.
The Director of the Departamento Administrativo de Planeación de Cali explained:
this allows us to do an exhaustive review of how the interventions are done and what will be the mechanisms with which the territory will be intervened, seeking to preserve precisely those architectural and urban values that the city has.
Director, Departamento Administrativo de Planeación de Cali
Ministry of Culture Approval
the district administration also secured the required endorsement from the Ministerio de Cultura.
One of the things that was authorized, and was one of the special situations in the review, is what the demolition process would be like, seeking that in no case this demolition would generate impacts on neighboring properties or affect other structures that also, having a level of heritage conservation.
Expected Benefits for Cali Citizens
The project is expected to benefit the citizens of Cali through the revitalization of the city center, a key initiative for Mayor Eder.
Giraldo concluded:
Our purpose as an administration, which is to recover Cali and recover the center of the city, recover social interaction and spaces where we have new economic activations and a new way of relating to each other among all Caleños.
Diego Andrés Giraldo, Director, Departamento Administrativo de Planeación de Cali
Cali’s Historic Center Revitalization: Q&A on the New Public Space Project
What is the revitalization project in Cali’s historic center?
The city of Cali, Colombia, is undertaking a project to revitalize its historic center by creating new public spaces that promote social interaction adn cultural enrichment. The project focuses on redeveloping the former site of Cinemas 1 and 2, located on Calle 10 between bulevar del Río and Carrera 3.
Why is this project important for Cali?
According to the Cali governance, this intervention is a cornerstone of the historic center recovery plan led by Mayor Alejandro Eder, aiming to create “a new space in one of the most emblematic sites in the center of Cali.”
What are the main goals of the Cali historic center revitalization?
Recover Cali’s historic center.
Comply with the goals established by the Plan especial de Manejo y Protección del Centro Histórico (PEMP), the Special Plan for Management and Protection of the Historic Center.
Recover social interaction.
Create spaces for new economic activities.
Establish a new way of relating to each other for all Caleños.
What are the planned features of the renovated space?
The renovation project includes:
A platform overlooking the river.
A first floor open to the public, directly connected to the Bulevar del Río.
An open-air cinema for locals and tourists.
What new attractions and benefits for visitors can be expected?
visitors will be able to enjoy the conventional boulevard, “la calle de la salsa” (salsa street), proximity to the river and the new open-air cinema. The district administration anticipates this will lead to renewed interaction, economic activity, and cultural engagement.
how was the project’s development managed to preserve cultural and heritage values?
The project began with a review process before the Consejo Distrital de Patrimonio (District Heritage Council), which includes the Departamento de Planeación and the Secretaría de Cultura, through the Subdirección del Patrimonio. This phase involved evaluating all intervention proposals in the context of cultural and heritage assets.
What role did the Ministerio de Cultura play in the approval process?
the district administration secured endorsement from the Ministerio de Cultura (Ministry of Culture). A key aspect of their review included assessing the demolition process to ensure it would not negatively impact neighboring properties or other structures with heritage conservation value.
how will the project benefit Cali citizens?
The citizens of Cali are expected to benefit from the revitalization of the city center, enhancing social interaction and providing new economic opportunities.
Key Project Details
| Feature | Description |
| —————————- | ——————————————————————————————————- |
| Location | Calle 10, between Bulevar del Río and Carrera 3 (former cinemas 1 and 2 site) |
| Main Features | Platform overlooking the river, open public space, open-air cinema |
| Goals | Historic center recovery, social interaction, economic activation, cultural enrichment |
| Approval Process | Reviewed by Consejo Distrital de Patrimonio and endorsed by the Ministerio de cultura |
What does this mean for the future of Cali’s Historic Center?
this represents a notable step in revitalizing Cali’s historic center, aiming to blend cultural preservation with modern amenities to create a vibrant and engaging public space for residents and tourists alike.