(From Montevideo, Uruguay) – The western entrance of Punta del Este is once again in the midst of controversy surrounding a real estate project that is intended to be built in the area. To the possible construction of 29 buildings in Punta Ballenaanother plan from the Brazilian businessman is added Alexandre Grendenewhich keeps the local residents on alert.
The businessman bought a property in the area that belonged to the State and had planned to install a free zone there, although that idea was put aside. Then, he thought of a port at the mouth of the El Potrero stream, as reported in the local newspaper Punta del Este Post Office. Now, You intend to build a real estate project, but you do not have the authorization to do soreported The country.
In January, the residents of the area were struck by the installation of a workshop on Route 10, near the Laguna del Sauce airport. His concern increased in February and March, when Work began on a palisade over the dunes and towards the mouth of El Potrero. The Daily reported days ago that Grendene’s intention is to build a private neighborhood on the site.
The property only has authorization to build an entrance portico, but from the Municipality of Maldonado They requested that the fence work be stopped. In February, the firm had begun forestation work on the dunes and wetland, and then they began to build the five-meter-high and nearly 400-meter-long palisade.
For now, The Environmental Directorate of the municipality has not detected any environmental impact due to the works that began.. At the national government level, meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment It also carried out an inspection and is ordering to suspend the works to regularize the situation.
Neighbors warn that it is necessary to preserve the area “because it is very delicate due to its proximity to the population center of Ocean Park and Chihuahua”. The spokesperson for the Ocean Park neighborhood group, Ricardo Soruhet, told FM Gente that when the waters of Arroyo El Portero that come from Laguna del Sauce had to be drained, they settled in that place, where work was now being done.
The neighborhood group said they were surprised because no authority had knowledge of the construction and, therefore, they had not allowed it either. The director of Urban Planning of the Municipality of Maldonado, Soledad Laguarda, informed the neighbors that There was no project in that area since the departmental regulations established that it is below the level of +3.50 meters.. This means that it is considered natural rural land and that construction cannot be carried out in that place nor can activities be carried out that pose a risk of flooding.
The neighbor explained that for the moment the construction has not stopped and they will have a meeting this week with the Prefecture, which has the power to stop the works. “Meanwhile, man continues destroying that very sensitive area”, he assured.
The Punta Ballena Neighborhood Union has also questioned this initiative. The neighbors say that “they are shocked” by the possible impacts of the “huge” real estate project promoted by the Brazilian businessman.
Grendene is the founder of one of the most important sandal manufacturers in the world, which estimates his net worth at USD 2 billion, according to the magazine Forbes. It manages the Ipanema, Rider and Melissa footwear brands. He is 54 years old and resides in Porto Alegre, although he has several properties in Brazil and Uruguay.
In February 2021Grendene lent his plane to Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou to travel to Brasilia to meet the president Jair Bolsonaro.
