Metro

Groups try to save houses

DAVID MESA/LA PRENSA

Too Late: Preservationists want historic houses in Bella Vista to be spared the fate of this structure.960820

The fight to stop the demolition of buildings deemed to have historical value in the municipality of Bella Vista has not been very successful.

Those who want to preserve the buildings have proposed establishing districts where homes would have to be preserved. The goal was to preserve 84 properties deemed to be of historical importance, which were built between 1915 and 1965.

But the groups have not received the government support they need to preserve the structures.

"The Consejo Municipal has never suspended the demolitions. The issue is not important to the councilors," said Raisa Banfield of the preservation group Alianza pro Ciudad.

That group, along with the Documentación y Conservación de Monumentos Modernos (Docomomo), has tried to preserve homes on Calle Ecuador, Calle 43 and avenidas Federico Boyd y Justo Arosemena.

Docomomo head Eduardo Tejeira said he is frustrated that there has not been more support from entities such as the Instituto Nacional de Cultura. That agency, he said, never supported a proposal he made in May to create the protected districts.

There was a proposal in 2006 made to the government by Deputy Denis Arce, who chaired the Asamblea Nacional's Comisión de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. That proposal, which called for the preservation of buildings more than 50 years old in Bella Vista, never got past the discussion stage.

In May, Panama City officials passed a moratorium on demolition permits, but only for churches, schools and public buildings. Private properties were exempt.

Bella Vista Representative Virgilio Crespo said the city's government can not prevent the sale, and subsequent demolition, of houses.

"That would be exceeding our duties," he said, adding that the issue needs to be handled at the national level.

That may happen next year as the Asamblea Nacional's Comisión de Educación is expected to address the matter.