Wasted Space?

Assassinated Radio Comedian Jaime Garzon looks across the empty lot at 26th St.

While Mayor Gustavo Petro talks about making central Bogotá denser and higher, this huge space along 26th St. is sitting empty.

The area was cleared when the avenue was widened for the ill-starred construction of the TransMilenio line to the airport. Lots of properties, probably including homes and small businesses, were demolished. But, paradoxically, this huge swath of land on the south side of 26th has been left empty and unused.

Corruption? Incompetent surveying? Bad planning? Or, perhaps the city does have plans for the land, altho they show no sign of it.

Meanwhile, it's become a huge wall for advertisers and graffiti artists, including the creators of a portrait of assassinated radio comedian Jaime Garzon.

Whatever the land's fate, the city better move quickly, before squatters build homes or vending shacks on it.

Radio comedian Jaime Garzon was assassinated in 1999 by right-wing forces, shaking the country. His killing is still being investigated.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours