Bella Vista and Calidonia account for 80% of the $200 million investments in urban renewal being carried out by the mayoral office in the 23 neighbourhoods in the district of Panama.

Underground parking, better sidewalks and walkways are part of the added value in Bella Vista and Calidonia, the districts where the most investment is being made in urban improvement. With the aim of “… stopping growing towards the suburbs (in the east towards Chepo and in the north towards the Chagres River) and having a more compact city with a revitalized downtown area,” the Mayor of Panama is carrying out an investment plan exceeding $200 million.

You may want to see “Panama: Construction Figures – 1st Quarter 2016“

“…According to Blandon, today the traditional town center (Bella Vista, Calidonia, Santa Ana) may have 40 thousand inhabitants at a stretch, mostly people on very low incomes, therefore he believes that with “planning” and a good policy of incentives for affordable housing, the area could easily accommodate up to 100 thousand people. “

See also: “Panama: $35 million in Construction Projects“

Although the idea is that more homes will be developed in the center, some people feel that investments in urban development should be spread out better among the 23 districts. Jose Batista, president of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA)   “… recommended to the mayor that policies be developed that make the operation of the city of Panama sustainable. For example, he explained that the laying of underground cables required by law should be transferred to businesses, so that in this way they also make a contribution. “