By Zoila Palma: The Belize City Council is continuing discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on a proposed comprehensive program to revitalize historic downtown Belize City, with plans being explored to improve public spaces, support businesses and preserve the city’s historic character.
The proposed revitalization area includes the Albert and Regent Street corridors, stretching from the Swing Bridge toward the House of Culture and surrounding historic centre.
Ideas under discussion include cleaning and repainting building façades, improving sidewalks and public spaces, updating traffic signs and making sections of downtown more pedestrian-friendly.
A possible pedestrian route could connect the Swing Bridge with the market, courthouse area and City Hall, while a waterfront boardwalk along the southern coast toward the House of Culture has also been discussed.
The Council and IDB have also explored ways to make better use of vacant or underused lots and encourage more people to live in the downtown area. The IDB’s “IDB for Cities and Regions” program was discussed as a potential avenue for supporting future investment. However, the Council emphasized that discussions remain at an early stage and that the scope of any project has not been finalized.
Any future program would require careful assessment of its costs, the City Council’s financial and legal capacity, and coordination with national partners.
The proposed downtown rejuvenation aims to create more inviting public spaces, support local businesses and protect Belize City’s heritage while making the historic centre a more attractive place to visit, work and live.
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