Breakthrough in Madrid City Council’s project to build a Chinese quarter in Usera. The ornamentation of the capital’s Chinatown will not include, for the moment, its most emblematic elements: the two arches designed by the municipality to serve as a showcase for its project to theme this part of the capital with objects from the Asian culture.
No company submitted bids for the construction and installation of the two arches planned by the Usera Board of Directors, responsible for the call for tenders, which was forced to declare this public call void . The competition was launched at the beginning of July and by mid-summer the city council already knew that there would be no company to commission the work. The call for tenders was declared void this week
The town hall had planned an expenditure of 225,000 euros for this item, which is added to other initiatives of the Almeida government aimed at providing part of Usera with a decoration inspired by the Asian giant, taking advantage of the abundance of the Chinese population and businesses in the area.
The Usera Board, promoter of the two arches, sought to increase tourism in the district by creating “a multicultural added value to the urban scene of this district” by following “the model of London’s Chinatown, by installing in these streets elements classics of Chinese culture like doors (paifangs) and lanterns,” explained the memory of the now frustrated project.
The two arches of Usera must have been ten meters high and almost thirteen meters wide. They were going to be placed on Dolores Barranco Street, from Plaza del Hidrogen to its extension along Evangelios Street, to the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. This point was chosen because, traditionally, these types of gates are erected “at crossroads, temples, bridges, government offices, parks and tombs.” Both structures included their own lighting as well as sound systems.
Work to place these elements should have started on September 2, with the idea that after three months of work they could be released for Christmas or, at least, for the Chinese New Year, which takes place between January and February. It is now unclear whether the project can be carried out.
Almeida’s plan to transform Usera into Chinatown
The two arches were the most emblematic elements of a project by the Almeida government to convert part of Usera (which includes part of the neighborhoods of Moscardó, Almendrales and Pradolongo) into Chinatown from Madrid. Its District Council also wants to build a road lit by Asian-style red lanterns along Dolores Barranco Street, from Plaza del Hidrogen to its confluence with Porta Coeli Street, planned in the project itself, now declared desert.
Although perhaps the most important action to theme the capital’s Chinatown is that carried out by the Works zone, with partial pedestrianization and a path to take visitors through the neighborhood from Madrid Río to the place where the first of the arches is located. A walk of almost two kilometers, punctuated with decorative references to the Asian giant.
The works will serve to pacify the streets and eliminate curbs within the Moscardó and Almendrales neighborhoods, through “the largest urban regeneration works carried out in the history of the neighborhood” – assures the City Hall of Madrid – with nine million euros of investment.
The renovation includes, among other actions, the complete change of the fountain in Julián Marías Square, which will also be renovated, adding a pergola on which climbing plants will grow. In Pablo Ortiz there will be new flower beds, more sidewalks and an exercise area, to then reach the Plaza de las Tizas, where there will be two new fountains: one of an ornamental nature and another area of water spray which will be used to cool neighbors during the summer months. The playground is also renovated.
Finally, part of José Bielsa Street as well as the end of Isabelita Usera Street are pedestrianized, up to Plaza del Hidrogen. The last block of Jaspe Street is also traffic-free, as is the case on Isidra Jiménez.
Dolores Barranco Street will also be renovated in this location with an elevation of the road to the height of the sidewalk, while maintaining its two-way direction for the movement of road traffic.
The City Council assures that with this intervention it seeks to strengthen the identity of this area of the capital as a place of residence of an important part of the Chinese community of Madrid, “by promoting the integration of some of its characteristics cultural with the traditional lifestyles of the neighbors.” of this district. ” It also aims to “gradually decentralize the city’s tourism”, by stimulating commerce and catering in the region, already flourishing in the form of numerous restaurants of Chinese cuisine.
The work to fill Usera with Chinese decoration will end in 2025 and has not convinced certain neighborhood associations – such as that of La Mancha, in Almendrales – which accuse the Town Hall of having planned this action without taking into account the agreement of neighbors. a group of Chinese businessmen.
