A new real estate project at Cerro Catedral, the main ski center in Bariloche and the Argentine Patagonia, is advancing amid criticism from various sectors.
From architects and engineers to environmentalists and tourism entrepreneurs, many specialists question its environmental, legal, and economic viability.
The project, promoted by the mayor of Bariloche Walter Cortés, seeks to enable real estate development on the mountain through an Urban Environmental Development Master Plan.
The initiative is from the business group Trappa and involves the cession of more than 70 hectares of municipal land in exchange for plots for subdivisions.
The voices against the plan
The College of Architects of Río Negro (CARN) rejected the land cession. According to the institution, the real estate project violates the Municipal Organic Charter, which defines Cerro Catedral as an “inalienable portion of its heritage”.
CARN spokesperson Alicia Albandoz pointed out that the project aims to turn the mountain into a “satellite city,” instead of strengthening its role as an economic engine of Bariloche.
The Professional Council of Engineers also expressed doubts. Engineer Julio Posse reported that the land registry is still not in the hands of the municipality and that the measurement of the concessioned area has errors.
Meanwhile, geologist Silvia Uber presented observations to the Deliberative Council about the geological instability of the area. The specialist cited studies from the Argentine Mining Geological Service (SEGEMAR) warning about the risks of urban development in the area.
Real estate project at Cerro Catedral: what’s at stake
Recently, the debate over this real estate project at Cerro Catedral moved to the Municipal Planning Council (CPM). There, the ruling party failed to explain the concrete benefits for the city.
Martín Lago, head of the association of hoteliers and gastronomics, questioned the process. “There were plenty of questions and notably scarce answers”, he summarized after the CPM meeting.
The president of the Chamber of Tourism, Néstor Denoya, considered that the Executive has “little political will” for a serious discussion about this real estate project at Cerro Catedral.
In this sense, he warned that “an opportunity is lost to listen to the professionals to improve the project”.
Among the main points questioned by specialists are:
- Geological risk due to instability in the mountain, according to SEGEMAR studies
- Irregularities in the measurement of the concessioned area
- Lack of registry ownership of the lands by the municipality
- Possible violation of the Municipal Organic Charter in the cession of hectares
- Absence of analysis on the economic, social, and environmental impact of the plan
The problem of the lack of an investigative commission
The Deliberative Council rejected this week the creation of an investigative commission to analyze the concession to Trappa for a real estate project at Cerro Catedral. Mayor Cortés had vetoed the ordinance that promoted it.
The opposition did not get the votes to support the initiative. Only three councilors voted against the veto, while six supported it.
If the project passes the public hearing stage —non-binding—, the Deliberative Council will have to approve it with two-thirds of the votes. For now, that number is not guaranteed.
With information from Letra P.
