Mérida, Yucatán — Another modernistic project is in the works, and this one has a globally famous name and the intention of cementing the city’s place in international business.
After five years of speculation — including rumors of a “Méridas of the World” and a “Mérida WTC” project — a World Trade Center-branded complex has been announced. But it’s very early. The WTC “Mérida” page is empty at this point.
The ForoMérida website reports that the WTCA has been working in recent months with various developers and local authorities to push the international trade complex through. Already, Mexico has WTC complexes in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City and another in confirmed in Puebla. Posh skyscrapers as high as 25 stories, the city’s first Westin Hotel, condos, shopping and meeting rooms are promised, near the City Center shopping site.
In mid-March, ForoMérida got the scoop of a transaction involving land in the San Angelo area, with the aim of establishing a “mixed-use project that would take away the breath.”
Then, ForoMérida found an April 2016 announcement in which WTC congratulated Mérida as a new member of the WTCA, along with Aruba, mentioning that “the cities had presented a comprehensive plan to the development of iconic World trade Center facilities with the services component of international trade.”
There are 323 official WTCs around the world, and their mission is to stimulate “trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and international businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally,” according to their About page. “Our association serves as an ‘international ecosystem’ of global connections, iconic properties, and integrated trade services under the umbrella of a prestigious brand.”
