Facades and Dangers

Facades and Dangers
April 30, 2012
Dariela Aquique

HAVANA TIMES, April 30 — Busy and centrally located Heredia Street in
Santiago de Cuba contains much of our history – especially that which
relates to culture, since still located there is the house of Jose Maria
Heredia, the writer of the classic song "Niagara."

This artery extends for roughly twelve blocks. However, only three of
them (between Calvary and San Pedro are very active – for several reasons.

First, this is because they are embedded in the city's so-called
"historic district," whose buildings evidence a variety of architectural
styles dating back to various periods but that have been preserved over
time.

These have undergone restoration after restoration, sometimes by the
occupants of dwellings, who are required to maintain the character of
these structures.

On certain occasions (usually as a result of a visit by some important
dignitary or due to some special event), restoration work is ordered of
the Office of the Curator of the City, which is responsible for
maintaining the patrimonial values of these structures.

On this street we can find significant and very popular sites
(especially for tourists), such as La Casona de Artex, the Carnival
Museum, the provincial headquarters of UNEAC and its art gallery (La
Confronta), the birthplace-museum of Herida, the "Casa de la Trova" and
numerous tables full of crafts on sale by local artisans.

No less important, but without enjoying such an influx of foreigners,
but also on this street is the monumental Elvira Cape Provincial Library.

Adding to the avenue's attractions is a small gallery of photos, books
and records called the "La Galeria de Eddy," as well as the cozy "El
Holandes" restaurant. These two private businesses currently enjoy
popularity and must be mentioned when talking about this street.

The sad thing about our walk down this street is when we stop and look
at the housing stock — assets that are currently in deplorable condition
— which contrast to the other buildings in a kind of light-dark
contraposition.

The second floor of the building on Heredia and San Felix street has
been propped up for than six years, though people always say that it's
full scale renovation is imminent. Otherwise it is likely that it will
likely collapse at any time, given the unfortunate occurrences that
happen on this well-known street.

Apathy, or what would be the imprudent closing of a facility that
generates a significant cash flow in foreign currency, have caused not
only the houses on Heredia to be exposed to dangerous degrees of
deterioration.

A poster, barely visible, hangs from the balcony of the "Grand Hall" on
the second floor of the Casa de la Trova, where almost every day of the
week this space is crowded with tourists and visitors who are there to
enjoy the music of groups of traditional artists or any other guest
performers.

There, people drink and dance as the music reverberates through the
flimsy beams that hold up the colonial-style balcony. Almost no one
notices the small poster alerting disaster. It reads "Danger of Collapse."

So, on this street where the poet Jose Maria Heredia was born, an avenue
that is famous for its cultural nights back in the 1980's, the route of
bards and dilettantes, the witness of gatherings on the stairs, a street
crowded with people walking up and down, you can see its painted facades
and — running against the grain— a vacant lot, where years ago a
building caught fire and was never rebuilt. Wood supports keep fragile
floors falling in pieces and a small sign warns of danger.

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