Ex-Bodegas Giol site demolition commences

Following the order made by Security Minister Nilda Garré yesterday, the demolition of the ex-Bodegas Giol site began this morning along Godoy Cruz Street in the neighbourhood of Palermo.

The operation began at 9.15AM this morning with 25 workers working on site.

Demolition machines began breaking down the derelict building which, until the police ordered evacuations yesterday, held dozens of squatter families. It was said that until the eviction order was made, around thirty families had occupied the site over a period of three years.

Transport Secretary Juan Pablo Schiavi estimated that “between today and Sunday, the destruction of the premises will be completed”.

During a press interview he also mentioned that “it is a very old building that has a huge cellar”, and that last night “the premises were evacuated throughout a period of two to three hours, alongside the removal of furniture, electrical appliances, etc.”

“Now we also have to sanitize the area,” admitted Schiavi when asked about the conditions the building was left in, following some neighbours reports of there being an abundance of rats.

It has been said that in place of the site, they are to construct a new set Polo Científico Tecnológico buildings, education sites linked directly with the Science and Technology ministries for the government. The new buildings are to form part of a block already in existence, currently being worked on.

He also confirmed that “there is a project in place to open up an area under the railway tracks” and with regard to the almost two hundred people who were ousted from the Giol building said, “they have been taken one by one, to other temporary homes or shelters.”