Today construction begins of a third shopping center in greater Mendoza, on the five hectares where "Acuapark" use to operate, on the east side of Accesso Sur (Highway 40) in Dorrego.
The shopping mall plans to compete directly with the other main two shopping malls in Mendoza; Mendoza Plaza Shopping, and Palmares Open Mall. There are plans for 137 storefronts, eight cinema screens, a food court with five restaurants and seven fast food diners, and a parking garage for up to 700 automobiles. There are also plans for a supermarket, bank, pharmacy, and a medical center. It is scheduled to completed by the end of 2011, and projected to cost U$D 8,000,000.
The most interesting fact is that the 23,000 square meters complex will reside on top of historic vegetation where the water park used to operate. It is planned that 85% of the forestation and vegetation will be preserved, and that for every one tree that is cut down for the project, another three will be planted.
This is designed to give the shopping complex a “nature” look and feel, as many of the old pools of the watermark will be converted to small artificial lakes with walking paths throughout.
The construction company Cioffi is in charge of the project in all aspects; design, investment, construction, and marketing. According to Adolfo Cioffi, owner of the company, it will not be a typical shopping mall in the sense of multiple stories, but rather a one level spread-out complex for the most part. The only area where two levels are planned is for the cines and medical center. The rest will all be on one level, but enclosed.
The project was schedule to start in 2009, but due to the worldwide financial crisis, it went on stand-by until this year when Cioffi deiced to move forward with the project, even though inflation has raised the estimated cost from seven to eight million US dollars.
The project is estimated to employ between 120 and 170 workers through its build out, and Cioffi is working together with local government officials to make sure that the appropriate road and traffic signal enhancements are made for to handle the modified flow of traffic in the area.
Written by Sara Gonzalez for Diario Uno
Translated digest of http://www.diariouno.com.ar/contenidos/2010/06/28/Arranc%C3%B3-la-construcci%C3%B3n-del-tercer-shopping-de-Mendoza-en-los-terrenos-donde-estaba-el-balneario-Aquapark-0001.html
