CUENCA DIGESTIn ‘State of the City’ report, mayor touts public works projects and quality of life in Cuenca

During his annual Citizen Cantonal Assembly last Thursday, Cuenca mayor Paul Granda reported the accomplishment of his administration after three years in office, claiming that the “progress has been impressive.”

In addition to road projects such as the Av. Ordoñoz Lasso / Las Americas interchange, he said that work on the historic district Barranco and reconstruction of Parque de la Madre are improving life in Cuenca. He noted that within months construction of several other large projects are scheduled to begin, including the widening of Av. Lasso, Cuenca’s new light rail system and the rebuilding of San Francisco Plaza.

He noted that $71 million have been invested in water and sewer projects and said that Cuenca is the “first city in Ecuador with guaranteed quality of drinking water.” 

He added that upgrades to communications networks make the city the “most connected” in the country. The Cuenca canton has 43,000 internet users, giving it the highest ratio of internet subscribers in Ecuador.

CUENCA, WISCONSIN MEDICAL SCHOOLS SIGN RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The University of Cuenca, the Medical College of the University of Wisconsin in the U.S., and Mount Sinai Hospital and and have created an affiliation to promote medical education and research in Cuenca.

The agreement will focus on biomolecular technology, anesthesiology and endoscopy and will include research to provide more effective use of antibiotics in the treatment of intestinal diseases.

Fabian Carrasco, director of the University of Cuenca medical school, said that the agreement aims ultimately to improve community health. “This is a partnership that will bring academic knowledge and know-how to the people who need it.”

WORK ALMOST COMPLETE ON TRES DE NOVIEBRE BARRANCO PROJECT

City officials say that reconstruction work on the Tres de Noviembre road, sidewalk and bicycle path will be completed by the end of October. The $1.5 million project on the Rio Tomebamba, from the Todo Santos bridge to the Centennial bridge, is part of the historic district revitalizaton program.

Xavier Cardenas, city project director, says that construction of an iTur tourist office and public restrooms, at the bottom of the escalinata adjacent to Hotel Crespo, will begin by the end of the year. He also said that installation of improved lighting in the area will continue and added that talks are underway with the national police to beef up security in the area.

JEFFERSON PEREZ COLISEUM TO RECEIVE FACELIFT

Cuenca’s largest indoor sports and entertainment facility, the Jefferson Perez Coliseum, is scheduled for major upgrades. 

According to José Verdezoto, head of the Sports Federation of Azuay, most of the work will be on the outside of the 8,000-seat structure. Verdezoto said that weather and neglect have made the coliseum unsightly and the problem lies mostly with exterior design.

The Coleseum is named for Cuencano Jefferson Perez, Ecuador’s only Olympic gold medalist.

Photo captions: Mayor Paul Granda and the new look of Cuenca's Perez Coliseum.