Changes to the Distrito Joven were made post-approval

The government plans for Costa Salguero came two years later after a bill approved by the local legislature that created the ‘Distrito Joven’ (“Youth District”), with the goal of turning the northern part of the City’s riverfront, from Núñez to Palermo, into a recreation and nightlife area.

With the proposed aim to integrate a long stretch of the river front into the capital, the government’s intention was to allow a certain percentage in each lot to be a buildable area, with one-third of space assigned for clubs, bars, and restaurants. It divided the coast of Buenos Aires in five sectors, the fifth being the Costa Salguero coastal grounds.

“In the Costa Salguero area, the law allowed the construction of buildings of up to 12 metres high, premises were to be let under a lease and subdivisions were not allowed,” said Magdalena Eggers, an architect specialised in laws and regulations.

But the City government changed the rules of the game midway through, says Eggers.

“Now the maximum height in Sector Five is set as 18 to 29 metres. And it makes provision for subdivisions to be staged,” she said.

Moreover, for the re-zoning proposal even to be discussed, the Rodríguez Larreta administration hurried the approval of a bill that allowed the sale of a portion of the Costa Salguero grounds, which was passed in December of last year thanks to the government’s own majority in the City Legislature. The entire opposition voted against.