Residents of Cairo's historic buildings make plea to prevent demolitions
Cairo's governorate is destroying architectural heritage in Egypt as part of the Maspero Triangle investment plan.
CAIRO — As the systematic demolition and alteration of architectural heritage continues in old Egyptian neighborhoods, residents of the Bulaq Abul Ela district in central Cairo fear the loss of their homes and shops.
On July 29, the deputy governor of Cairo, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ayman Abdel Tawab, said in statements to the local press that Cairo governorate demolished several real estate properties on July 26th Street in Bulaq Abul Ela district, including building No. 54. Tawab said the building’s residents had been evicted and demolition was underway.
Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Abdel Hadi, the head of the Bulaq Abul Ela neighborhood, had announced in June the start of the demolition of 123 housing units and 86 shops on July 26th Street and in the area behind Sultan Abu Ela Mosque in the middle of the Bulaq Abul Ela.
The demolition is part of the Maspero Triangle development project. The Egyptian government is seeking to modernize this highly valued area adjacent to the Nile in central Cairo and turn it into a cosmopolitan investment and residential hub.
