The string of roadside food stands doing business on the service road on the west end of San Antonio Tlayacapan are being squeezed out by the construction of a new business and housing development and strict regulations imposed by the municipal government.
About one month ago, Chapala’s Urban Development Office issued a building permit for the complex that will fill the large vacant lot located at the corner of Calle Colon, facing the highway. It will house commercial outlets on the ground floor, apartment units on the upper story, and underground and ground level parking lots below and behind the structure.
The project is going up under the name of Entorno Laguna, a development enterprise set up by Guadalajara investors who are taking an interest in the lakeside market.
After earth moving maneuvers started two weeks ago, several of the food stands were relocated to a grassy area on the opposite side of the highway. Among them is a branch of the local Tacos Jessica chain and the popular Pollos Don David, better known by expatriate clients as the “dusty chickens” outdoor grill.
Last Saturday, the proprietors hired a backhoe to knock down part of the cement barrier bordering the road, opening access to parking space. Alerted to the unauthorized removal of the barrier, local authorities appeared at the scene to order its replacement.
On Monday, the food stand operators received citations to appear before the heads of the city hall offices of regulations and markets. By the end of the week the merchants and the officials reached an agreement that allows the businesses to remain at their temporary spots until the end of September. After that they will have to move into permanent quarters or close down.
It is a decision auguring the implementation of new strategies aimed to more closely regulate and reduce the proliferation of informal commerce on the municipality’s streets.