The Mayor\'s Office has begun the first five demolitions in downtown Cali as part of the Cristo Rey Plan.
The buildings were targeted during Operation IRON, and some had also sustained damage from the earthquake on August 10. This intervention is part of the comprehensive recovery strategy for Ciudad Paraíso and surrounding areas.
Santiago de Cali, October 1, 2026
As part of the Plan Cristo Rey (Christ the King Plan), the Cali Mayor's Office began demolishing five buildings in the city center this Thursday, these structures had been targeted during "Operation IRON," and some had sustained damage during the earthquake on August 10.
These actions are part of the territorial consolidation phase that followed Operation IRON, an initiative through which authorities intervened in sectors of downtown Cali to reclaim areas plagued by criminal activity and to strengthen the presence of public institutions.
During the operation, Mayor Alejandro Eder emphasized that the area's recovery goes beyond security measures; it involves a comprehensive intervention encompassing infrastructure, public spaces, social services, lighting, urban restoration, and renewal projects.
"We are here to stay. And I want to be clear about something else, we are deploying the Mayor's Office's social services to assist the local residents," stated Mayor Alejandro Eder.
The District Administration is carrying out these actions in coordination with security authorities and various District agencies, ensuring that the area's recovery is backed by a permanent institutional presence.
"We are going to remain here, and I hope to see a total transformation of the area by October 31," Eder noted.
Christ the King Plan also addresses the needs of the communities living in the area. In recent weeks, the Mayor's Office has conducted social outreach events for the homeless and local residents reaching over 300 unhoused individuals so far
while simultaneously developing specific plans to support the area's children and adolescents.
This physical intervention complements the infrastructure restoration work already underway in the area. Road repairs and street lighting improvements are currently progressing as part of a strategy to transform the area's urban conditions.
Concurrently, the District Administration is driving urban renewal projects aimed at fostering new dynamics in housing, commerce, and economic activity in downtown Cali.
"In some areas, demolitions will be accompanied by full-scale urban renewal," the mayor explained.
In sectors where no urban renewal project is initially planned, the Administration will evaluate each case individually, in coordination with property owners. For properties linked to criminal activity, appropriate legal proceedings will be initiated, including actions related to asset forfeiture where applicable.
A comprehensive revitalization of the city center
The Cristo Rey Plan is part of a broader strategy to revitalize areas of downtown Cali by integrating security measures, social investment, and urban transformation.
The intervention will continue with further efforts to reclaim public spaces and infrastructure, support local communities, and strengthen economic and cultural activities. These efforts complement projects the Administration is already developing in the Obrero neighborhood and upcoming interventions planned for the area surrounding Plaza de Caicedo.
The goal is to ensure that the restoration of security is accompanied by a lasting transformation of the area, allowing residents to reclaim these spaces and turning them into active, safe districts well-connected to the rest of the city.
Mayor's Office Communications