The governor of the Bío Bío region, Sergio Giacaman, and the mayor of Concepción, Héctor Muñoz, have met with the Ministry of Social Development to ensure the continuation of the recovery process for the Concepción Central Market. This meeting was requested by the Serviu (the regional housing and urban development service) to maintain the legality of using public funds, even though the planned expropriation of the entire city block has been rejected.
Navigating Legal Challenges
The previous agreement between the regional government (GORE Bío Bío) and the Serviu included the design of the new commercial center for the market. However, the regional government’s decision to rescind part of the agreement, which had committed around 17 billion pesos for the expropriation of the entire city block, has created uncertainty around the project’s future.
«To maintain this work, the director of the Serviu, María Luz Gajardo, asked Governor Sergio Giacaman to confirm the public interest of the project with the Ministry of Social Development, in order to give legality to the use of public funds,» explained Giacaman.
Positive Response from the Ministry
According to the governor, the meeting with the Undersecretary Francisca Gallegos at the Ministry of Social Development yielded a positive response, although the project will need to be reevaluated. «The design can be completed by the Serviu and can be used to execute the reconstruction of the Central Market, emphasizing that without the expropriation, the state will save significant resources,» Giacaman added.
Prioritizing Efficiency and Savings
The previous expropriation plan had included the entire city block, not just the market itself. This had committed the previous GORE Bío Bío administration to a significant financial investment that the current administration does not have. By rescinding part of the agreement, the regional government aims to find a more cost-effective solution for the market’s reconstruction.
Moving Forward with the Redesign
Despite the legal challenges, the authorities are working to ensure the continuity of the project. The Serviu will be able to complete the design of the new commercial center, which can then be used as the basis for the actual reconstruction of the Concepción Central Market, ultimately delivering a modernized and revitalized landmark for the city.
