The year 2010 marks the year of several constructions and expansions in the city. This development indicates that Cagayan de Oro is gaining more businesses and opportunities for progress.

Three of the most awaited projects in Cagayan de Oro are the construction of the YMCA mixed-used building, the restoration of the Old Water Tower and the establishment of a 30-storey City Center.

YMCA Multipurpose Building

The Youth Men’s Christian Association (or YMCA), a religious-centered national movement, has planned to build a three-story multipurpose edifice at their compound located near Julio Pacana Street, Puntod in Cagayan de Oro.

Already servicing the community with a hostel and several business organizations, the eventual relation of the Court of Appeals at Indahag would have ended up in a large setback in its building’s income from leasing. Nevertheless, the latest project of YMCA would deliver more positive prospects.

According to the rendering posted on the billboard in the construction site, it would appear that the project will be erected behind the hostel, with its entrance facing Pedro Sa. Baculio Street.

The YMCA multipurpose building’s construction is being overlooked by Architect Richard Tan.

Old Water Tower

One of the oldest landmarks in the city, the old Water Tower, which was developed in 1921 near San Agustin Church and across Gaston Park, has now been refurbished, turning it into a Museum and Archives Center of the City of Golden Friendship.

Local government workers and engineers have already been rushing to get the construction done, which was originally proposed to be finished by 2008 during the National Archives Day. The event would have been a joint undertaking between the Executive Council of the National Archives Committee of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts and the city government.

Current city Mayor Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula said that the restoration construction can contribute to the tourism boost in Cagayan de Oro. The tower, or soon-to-be-museum, will feature a range of collections of keepsakes, records and documents that are significant to the city’s history and culture.

Apart from archiving relevant local historical documents and other materials as a library center of Cagayan de Oro, the mayor also hoped that the museum would revive the old water tower’s historical importance to the city.

Jaraula also said that the reconstruction of one of the oldest pre war establishments in the city would involve installations of a spiral steel staircase at the back of the building, which would be the main entrance to get to the top of the tower. It would likewise have a shatterproof viewing deck to get a 360? view of Cagayan de Oro. Additionally, the tower was planned to have a glass enclosed elevator installed on one side of the tower.

Thirty Story City Center

Another proposed edifice, and probably the most remarkable one in the city, is the 30-Story City Center, which will be constructed behind the community amphitheater (which is at present undergoing renovation) in Divisoria.

There was earlier information that revealed that the planned condotel edifice, considered as the tallest one in Mindanao once it is finished, would be constructed by the IF Koresco Group, with some preparations with the local government that currently owns the lot, which was originally owned by the Chavez family.

As disclosed earlier, the lower story will hold the city tourism office and other associated organizations. The building will be particularly iconic as it would have a “pineapple” at its top. According to perspective, the City Center would be “L-shaped,” with its entrance facing the Golden Mile or the city river.

In spite of all the excitement of the construction of this remarkable building, which will surely put Cagayan de Oro City on the map, there is still no definite schedule as to when the construction will start. It is, however, said to be a project that is in collaborative efforts of those involved in the Golden Mile and the amphitheater project.

-by Rose Anne Quirante-

Tags: cagayan de oro news, cdo projects, news

This entry was posted on Monday, April 26th, 2010 at 3:43 am and is filed under News and Developments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.