KEEPERS of 44 workshops in el-Gamalia Street in Islamic Cairo feel worried about a plan to restore the street. The Ministry of Culture project will turn the street into a car-free, open-air museum, similar to what has been done in nearby Moez Leddin Allah Street. The Ministry has already started the second phase of its project to develop Islamic Cairo that will take three years, including overhauling its many ancient monuments, as well as painting the façades of all the buildings at a total cost of around LE50 million (about $9 million). The project covers the area from Bab el-Nasr to Al- Azhar Street. Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni has decided to vacate the Gamalia district of all its workshops, which detract from the historical harmony of the street. The workshops will be demolished and relocated, although some might still be used for different activities. As you walk through Bab el-Nasr and enter el- Gamalia Street, you immediately notice how rundown it is. The street, named after the Fatimid Minister, Badr Eddin el-Gamali, is poorly paved and full of trash. El-Gamali did much to restore Islamic Cairo in Fatimid times. One of the workshop owners, Reda Ahmed, is unhappy at the way el- Gamalia Street has deteriorated. He says he agrees that the Ministry of Culture ought to hurry up and develop it. However, other owners are very angry at having been told to leave by the Ministry of Culture. “If we move, we'll have to pay LE200 [about $35] in rent per month and we cannot afford it. Here, we only pay LE18 [around $3],” says Hajj Ahmed, a metalworker. The Ministry of Culture has decided to relocate all workshops that use fire in the course of their work. Archaeologist Hussein Ragei describes these workshops as time bombs. Some of the workshops use nitrogen gas flames to work metal, as well as highly inflammable chemicals that pose a serious threat to the ancient mosques and other historical buildings there. Ragei argues that the trade of these workshops won't suffer if they move, as they only manufacture goods, rather than sell them. El-Gamalia Street is home to 22 historical buildings, including mosques, sabils (fountains) and a number of gates. First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Farouq Abdel-Salam says that, of the 22 monuments, the Ministry of Waqfs (Endowments) owns 16 and the Supreme Council of Antiquities three, while the rest belong to private individuals. El-Gamalia Street also includes 45 modern buildings and 14 vacant parcels of land. Abdel-Salam notes that work on developing the infrastructure in el- Gamalia has already started, while work to restore the ancient monuments to their former glory is also underway. New lighting will be introduced, similar to the new lighting system in Moez Leddin Allah Street.
