The La Paz city government will relocate the scaffolding that has propped up the historic facade of the former La Perla de La Paz department store for nearly two decades. Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero confirmed the municipality received approval from INAH (the National Institute of Anthropology and History) to move the support structure off the public sidewalk and onto the adjacent private lot.
The metal scaffolding has occupied the sidewalk since a fire destroyed the La Perla building on October 12, 2006. For almost 20 years, the temporary structure has forced pedestrians on one of downtown La Paz’s busiest blocks to navigate around it or step into the street. The project will finally clear the walkway.
INAH Sets Conditions for the Work
INAH’s approval comes with a strict condition: the historic facade itself cannot be altered or demolished. The stone and plaster front of the old department store is considered part of the city’s architectural heritage. Workers will move the scaffolding’s base from the public right-of-way onto the private property behind the facade, keeping the structural support in place without blocking foot traffic.
The intervention will also include new lighting around the site and a general cleanup of the area. The La Perla facade sits in the heart of La Paz’s historic downtown, just blocks from the malecón, the seaside promenade that draws both locals and visitors daily.
A Long Wait for Downtown Pedestrians
La Perla de La Paz was once one of the city’s most recognizable retail landmarks. After the 2006 fire gutted the interior, the building was never rebuilt. The scaffolding went up as an emergency measure to keep the facade from collapsing, but the years passed without a permanent solution. Ownership disputes and the cost of restoration kept the site in limbo.
The city has not announced a start date or timeline for the scaffolding relocation. Mayor Quiroga Romero’s administration has framed the project as a pedestrian safety improvement for the downtown core.
La Paz’s historic center has seen a series of small infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including street repaving and upgraded lighting along the malecón. The La Perla project fits that pattern, addressing a long-standing eyesore that locals and visitors have walked past since the mid-2000s.
This story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.