BY STAFF CONTRIBUTOR
It was my first time when I strolled along the newly renovated street from Arat Kilo to Piassa, part of Addis, which I love and frequent the most. Honestly speaking, I felt lost, even at some point dared to look for a guidepost to know my whereabouts, in the most modest words. Almost everything has kept moving, transforming several parts of Addis into newfound shape and urban flavor and taste.
Briefly speaking, Addis Ababa is mushrooming. Sides of its streets have begun to turn magnificent. The bumpy streets, which you might have suffered to and from office, surprisingly transformed into spacious lanes and walkways - all in harmony with the touch and taste of history, culture and politics. The tempo, if sustained, will soon catch the souls of not only tourists but also great names - just the way great writers fell for Paris after its makeover.
Several of its pockets, once known for their slums and substandard buildings, are now being seen all of a sudden turned into green fields, public spaces and modern commercial hubs, almost all mindfully planned, expertly engineered and responsibly executed. Concisely, the newly launched Addis Ababa Corridor Development project, has remained steadfast in its pursuit to make the African capital aesthetically alluring, functional and hygienic. Her heroic mayoral deeds, untold though, the Iron Lady, unlike her predecessors, is remaking Addis, surprisingly amidst hairsplitters’ distinctions. Some, particularly the so-called journalists from abroad, have dared to belittle the redevelopment programs, and even accuse planners of damaging heritages. But do ages of buildings alone automatically render them eligible for heritage status? To one’s surprise, some of the buildings were nearly falling apart even before the city kicked off the urban makeover. I very well understand that no project is free of shortcomings, as the dictum goes; no gain is guaranteed without pain.
Several anthropologists and planners, who studied Addis Ababa’s inner city for several years, are in support of the redevelopment, particularly of Piassa’s renewal, saying “There’s no doubt the area needed renovation.”
As you might have heard or read of it, Piassa was built in the 1880s, worse enough a master plan. People in the capital considered it their Old Town-which pioneered modernity, but it should be clear that most part of it has suffered old ages with many people clustered and packed under shabby houses, where access to clean water and toilets is tough.
Lack of master plans from its establishment coupled with the need to reconcile with narratives of urbanization today, Addis Ababa is pushing forward to change its face. The seat of the African Union and several other continental and international organizations, has begun to reshape itself. It initially launched river side projects, followed by tourist site developments, such as parks, public spaces, world class museums and now the corridor development program---all centering at making Addis fit enough both to its residents and potential tourists.
The latest grand program, known as the corridor redevelopment scheme, is of paramount significance to introduce to the city green public spaces, where residents enjoy their extra time inhaling fresh air pumped by newly planted trees. The corridor redevelopment project sites, one completed, will redefine the face of Addis, such as easing traffic flows, which is a headache during rush hour of the city, best of all the renewal will help shake off dust the city has suffered for hundreds of years.
The project is also introducing new work habits to residents, where the project sites unusually are seen with planners and engineers round the clock on project sites. It, among several other successful achievements, has brought fresh perspectives awakening both officials and employees which has helped them all to complete projects ahead of schedule.
Success stories being witnessed have brought concrete confidence that Ethiopian contractors, consultants and the leadership have huge potential, political will and expertise to transform even mega projects, such as building smart cities.
The renovation as witnessed will change the cityscape and how people live there. Chronicles hold it that Addis Ababa, like several cities, was founded without a master plan. It was known for its small winding streets, wooden buildings, poor water and sewer systems. And even worse many of its narrow streets have been difficult for easy traffic flow, and hard to act immediately in cases of emergency
So, its ambition to create a functional street network — connecting one part of the city to another is of paramount significance.
The move will not only reshape the drainage system, green public space and traffic congestions, but also will introduce vibrant city life with decent urban thinking.
Such radical sweeping change may attract critics, but for sure, nearly all of its residents are in favor of it and are agreeing on the need to change the face of Addis for once and for all.
Hats off!