translated from Spanish: Land power – El Mostrador

Lord Director: a few days ago was news in some media differences that would be facing Sa commune ntiago and the Congress for the use of a site in the heart of the capital. It referred to the proposal of Mayor Alessandri to give a new use into the realm of the Ministry of national property located in the corners of Morande with Cathedral, today used by the neighbouring building of the former Congress as parking. The initiative is in itself a valuable idea that could transform 1,200 square meters of precarious aparcaderos in a new public space type Pocket square. However, what draws attention in all this are the 6,000 square meters of consolidated gardens surrounding the Santiago headquarters of the legislature, a space that constitutes one of the few green areas in the historic centre next to the Plaza de Armas and the Constitution but, despite this, and in contrast to its peers, being banned for santiaguinos. Nonsense considering that they belong to the main public forum of the country, therefore, all Chileans.
Rather than dispute 1,200 square meters for a transitional space, efforts should aim to recover the 6,000 one consolidated, which in addition to being a more practical solution, could become a simple but valuable gesture to begin to establishing a new relationship between the legislature and the public. Other powers already took a step. Following the recent withdrawal of the Papal fences that surrounded him for years, the Palacio de La Moneda enabled people approaching the building and squares. For its part, in the Palace of the courts was renewed with excellence the Plaza Montt-rods which structured and dignificó public space and enhanced the built heritage: building of El Mercurio, Pre-Columbian Museum and former Congress, calle Bandera and futura including metro station.
What is the point then that former Congress continue lattice and disconnected the renewal and people? None, but this does not mean that the land used today as parking can be used better, especially considering that there are two paid public parking lots close by available also for parliamentarians and authorities that they arrive at the place. But if the underlying theme is to enable a new public space for the center of the city, you have to be greedy and ask for the best. If the municipality and the Congress will have a dispute by a field that you want to deliver to the collective use, making it outright by the 6,000 square meters of gardens already built, that deliver permanent to thousands of inhabitants and passers of the the Centre of the capital a consolidated, quality and space under-utilised, a real green haven – ideal to the heat of the summer-that most weather we have had to settle for seen from afar.
Genaro pictures Ibanez Director laboratory city and territory University Diego Portales

Original source in Spanish