Stoicism seems to be an imprinted trait in the character of the residents of Centro Habana. Tired of living among ruins, they are hardly disturbed when a building is about to collapse, like the one that was being evicted this Tuesday on San Lázaro street, between Gervasio and Escobar, just before its partial demolition.
Some time ago it had become evident that the property was held up almost with pins, but it was this morning when, after blocking the street and without marking the area, the “brave” who were still in the building slowly began to leave what their homes were like with a few bags, the few belongings they thought they should find a new place for.
The residents had been taken by surprise by the announcement that they were going to proceed to tear down the property and, without further details, they rushed to collect their things. The surprise was greater when they discovered that what was actually going to be demolished was only the façade and that, once the work was finished, they had to return to live in the back of the building. The six apartments that make up the structure are wide and long, but its inhabitants must isolate, if only to avoid seeing the sad ruins, which was once the visible face of their houses.
“It’s a shame, these crystals, which cost a lot of money. Someone should pay the tow truck to remove them,” commented one of the many onlookers who milled around the building while the last person to leave closed the door. before work began.
On the balcony of the adjoining building, a neighbor leaned out to watch, without shock, what was happening. None of the surrounding buildings are in better health than the one that was to be torn down today, but few seem alarmed at living with the constant threat of the roof falling on their head or their house being the next to be torn down. The simple fall of the rubble of the building that was partially collapsed today made the floor tremble, threatening the weaker nearby structures.
A few meters away, in the sausage queue, an argument could be heard. Life was the same.
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