“We have corrected, where possible, the errors that were made,” the mayor said, adding that his administration’s main priority has been to guarantee the safety of tenants and customers.
Former Mayor Ramiro Hernandez had planned to open the market on September 16 last year, two weeks before he finished his term. Construction delays, however, made that deadline impossible.
Although the market is up and running, less than 100 of the 571 modest vendor spaces (locales) were open this week. Some 250 traders have applied to remodel their spaces to meet their requirements and intend to move in only when the adjustments have been completed.
Concessions to work in the no-frills, three-tier structure were automatically granted to family businesses that operated in the old market. Alfaro has insisted the market will not be turned into a “mall” and will maintain its traditional “tianguis” core of food stands, groceries, flower stalls, herbs, cheap clothing, etcetera. There will, however, be one major difference than in the past: sales of contraband and “pirated” goods will be strictly regulated under Alfaro’s tough regime. Fees for vendors have yet to be finalized, city administrators say, but should average around 500 pesos a month, depending on the size of the space.
Although the market is open, constructors are continuing to work on outstanding issues, the mayor admitted. These include:
- Completing the two underground parking levels.
- Finishing and delivering 100 locales on the upper level (third floor), expected in the next few weeks.
- Fixing the sidewalk on Calle Independencia.
- Kitting out the fourth floor, to used as municipal offices.
The Corona Market encompasses an entire block of the city center on Hidalgo, between Ocampo and Galeano, three blocks from the Cathedral.