The Future of Toluca: Another Downtown Project That’s Probably Just a Tax Scam
the future of toluca isn’t some glossy, airbrushed vision from a City Council PowerPoint. it’s traffic cones, budget cuts, and a freeway exit that suddenly became a giant pig statue. let me unpack this while sober…ish.
*the good (probably): toluca’s gotta survive the century, right? the new rail line to CDMX drops in 2025 - great? kinda. but here’s the thing locals don’t care about: how many porta-potties did they install at the Works Plaza upgrade? zero. yet. the Before/After Instagram posts are going to be brutal. rustbelt gondolas over the Cauca valley? my dude, I’d rather photograph my cat vomiting on a Starbucks napkin.
cost of living: rent’s gonna crush a student’s soul. like, 12k pesos a month for a city-center studio? chef’s kiss. broke creatives are turning into street artists fast - like that mural on Calzada Juarez comparing infrastructure to a divorce lawyer. (reddit thread says the artist is getting kicked out tomorrow for ‘vandalism.’ fair).
safety data: Toluca’s homicide rate dropped 15% in Q2 2024. nice! but try telling that to the food cart guy who swears his face mask ‘changed shape’ overnight. conspiracy or just bad allergies? who knows.
overheard at the bodega: ‘didja hear about the new casino near the Morelos exit? finally, Mexico City-level gambling! finally, class!’ - some guy eating churritos at 2 AM. I checked the zoning laws. nope, just another middling chain that’ll close in 3 weeks.
weather today: fog like a bad telenovela, roaming cows on Periferico. I took a drone shot of the new bike lanes and Zeus (yes, Zeus) shot me a death glare before crashing into a google map marker. pro-tip: if you’re a cyclist here, assume all drivers are either drunk or plotting your demise. so far, he’s on track.
blocked access: the Centro Histórico’s pedestrianization project? 100% union strike bait. ‘movimiento profesional’ sure, but also, how you gonna get a taxicab to ‘smile for the kiosks now? people’s priorities JESÚS.
local nerd-emerald: chel, 32, painter, told me ‘the new tech hubs? joke. I tried networking with the ‘innovation studio’ guys. they wanted me to trade art for a LinkedIn recommendation. bro, I don’t have posture. I have a curriculum.
deep dive (aka rambling): toluca’s infrastructure game is 20 years behind Sonoma. but here’s the wild part - the underground cable reroute will mess with isp speeds again. ironic, right? in a state famous for… whatever this is. the hero here is a guy named Juan-Omar who smells like glue and coaxial cable, patching mainlines with printer paper and prayers.
reddit rumor: nascent WFH professionals are invading Toluca Lake. drive 45 minutes to work from home? meanwhile, the actual town of Toluca Lake (different state, totally not ironic) is laughing. prospera mexico posters sure know how to spin a loss.
closing thoughts: tell your boss to move here. rent’s cheap, but safety’s a coin toss. grab a horchata and laugh at the new bus stop LED ads. they say Toluca’s future is innovative. I say it’s excited to escape*.
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- https://topiclo.com/post/how-i-found-a-legit-apartment-in-chiang-maim-and-almost-got-scammed
- https://topiclo.com/post/best-afterschool-activities-and-youth-sports-in-detroit-dont-sleep-on-this
- https://topiclo.com/post/mlagas-safest-and-most-dangerous-neighborhoods-a-drumslovers-field-report