Neighbors and organizations in defense of urban heritage expressed “concern” at the “imminent” sale of a property located within a Historic Protection Area (APH) in downtown Buenos Aires, which adjoins the monastery and the church of Santa Catalina, both founded in 1745.
Through a statement, the group “Friends and Neighbors of Santa Catalina” indicated that it is on “a state of alert before a possible new real estate attack that challenges the architectural, historical, archaeological and spiritual legacy on the property adjacent to the church and monastery”
The expressed concern alludes to the situation in the block that integrates the Historic Protection Area called North Cathedral, and It is bounded by Córdoba avenue and Viamonte, San Martín and Reconquista streets.
There, are the church and the monastery dating from the colonial era, whose design was in charge of the Italian architect and Jesuit Giovanni Andrea Blanqui, and which were declared as National Historic Monument in 1942; while the remaining plots are currently occupied by a parking for cars that belongs to the company Nehuente SRL.
Strictly speaking, the construction firm projected on these lands the construction of a 20-story tower; but it did not advance with the initiative since it was unprofitable due to the drop in activity in the Buenos Aires microcenter after the pandemic that caused hundreds of empty offices.
As pointed out by the group of neighbors, the property is for sale and “there are rumors and dubious procedures in soil studies and surveying” that are being carried out on the plot, within the garage sector, apparently at the request of those interested in acquiring the property.
“We are not willing to accept other encroachments on the aforementioned place where two national historical monuments rest,” they stressed, noting that they are reluctant to “dismiss its archaeological wealth by launching serious and compelling studies that would show that the land hides relics of a founding past. that deserves clear and determined expressions of respect”.
Within this framework, they reiterated the need for the Buenos Aires Legislature sanctions the bill presented in 2021 by Stop Demolition Organization (BDD) for the expropriation of the place and the construction of a plaza.
“Expropriate and build a plaza that stimulates memory and puts an end to investments and real estate operations that ignore what is valuable to society as a whole, as has happened on other occasions, ignoring even what is ruled by Justice,” they remarked.
It is that the Superior Court of Justice allowed a amparo presented by neighborhood organizations and in defense of heritage that sought to stop the real estate project and referred, in its ruling, to “an excessive zeal for private interests and the postponement of interest in the preservation of historical heritage.”
“A plaza is necessary for the refunctionalization of downtown Buenos Aires after the pandemic, since it would reduce the ‘heat island’ effect in the context of the fight against global warming and urban epidemics. And it would put an end to real estate speculation on the lot and it would improve the conditions of conservation and appreciation of heritage within the historic center”, highlighted from BDD.
