An alternative to informal commerce: Construction of the "Cholutequita" Metropolitan Shopping Center in León, Nicaragua

Abstract

The project aimed to contribute to the revitalization of the Historic Center of León in Nicaragua, by constructing a commercial building to accommodate informal traders located in the area known as “Cholutequita.” The results obtained were as follows:

• The conditions of informal vendors located in the city's central zone have notably improved since the construction of the Metropolitan Shopping Center.
• The population of the city of León has benefited from the construction of a shopping center that provides excellent conditions for its use.
• The consolidation of the Historic Center of León has been supported by a building adapted to the city's physical and typological conditions.

The construction of the "Cholutequita" Metropolitan Shopping Center in the city of León, Nicaragua, was promoted by the initiative of the Informal Market Traders Association COMETRO, the León Municipal Mayor's Office (AML), and the Heritage for Development Program - AECID, which restructured part of the informal commerce in the central area of León through this project. All construction works were executed by students and instructors from the León Workshop School (AML-AECID) and designed and supervised by the Technical Office for Conservation of the Historic Center of León (AML-AECID).