Mar del Plata, Argentina – The waves of change crash upon the shores of Mar del Plata, where history and progress stand eye to eye, like old friends with diverging paths. In the heart of a city where chalets once whispered stories of times gone by, a tower will rise—120 meters tall, casting its shadow on homes that have endured nearly a century of quiet dignity.
Where Memories Once Stood, a Tower Will Rise
For many, the news of a towering structure in the Manzana 89A, near the shimmering waters of Playa Varese, feels like a storm sweeping through. Approved by the General Pueyrredon City Council, this project—a modern colossus reaching toward the skies—has ignited fierce debate. At its core lies a question as old as time: What is the price of progress, and must it always come at the expense of the past?
The new tower, poised to soar 120 meters above the historic chalets of Alem and Falucho streets, will forever alter the face of this quaint seaside neighborhood. A beacon of luxury for some, a beacon of loss for others.
A Clash Between Past and Present
The city’s council chambers echoed with voices both hopeful and grieving. Construction workers, their faces worn by years of labor, gathered with union leaders to support the promise of jobs and economic growth. But across the aisle, stood those whose hearts break for the past—a collective of neighbors, architects, and defenders of heritage who see in this tower not just a building, but a betrayal.
Marita Ontañón, a member of the Marplatenses Defensores del Patrimonio, spoke softly yet firmly: “We do not oppose progress, but there is a way to build without destroying who we are. No one has the right to tear down what we have inherited.”
Her words echoed the sentiment of many. They believe this tower, approved through exceptional permissions, breaks not just local building codes, but a promise to the city’s soul. While Mar del Plata’s skyline already holds several modern towers, including the famed structures of Playa Chica, this new development would stand as a giant among men—one that, some fear, will blot out the light from the chalets’ windows and the warmth of the sun from their lives.
A Tale of Two Futures
Florencia Miconi, the leader of Fiduciaria Paisajes Urbanos and president of the Mar del Plata Builders Association, insists the project respects the past even as it shapes the future. “We have worked hand-in-hand with local owners, integrating their needs and preserving key structures. This is not an exception; it is a thoughtful expansion.” She points to the careful restoration of the María Frers de Mahn chalet and the integration of other historical homes into the project.
Yet, as the skyline of Mar del Plata prepares to stretch higher, neighbors like Sonia Castelleti, who returned from France to live in one of these chalets, feel the weight of change in their bones. “Mar del Plata was once the Biarritz of Latin America. We had something special—beauty, grace, history. Now, are we to become just another city of glass and steel?”
Shadows of Progress
The tower’s planned construction brings with it the promise of urban renewal. In exchange for bending the city’s rules, developers have committed to refurbishing sections of the historic Rambla Casino, an icon in desperate need of care. But for those living in the shadow of this impending colossus, no amount of restoration can replace the warmth and history of the homes soon to be overshadowed—literally.
An analysis of the project revealed that the shadow of the 120-meter tower, on winter afternoons, will indeed stretch over the very homes that have called this land theirs for generations. Yet, developers argue the new tower, connected by a bridge to a smaller, three-story building, will provide much-needed housing and amenities, without obstructing the coastlines that Mar del Plata is known for.
The Price of Progress
Behind the permits, behind the blueprints, and behind the debates lie questions bigger than a single project. What does a city owe its past? How does it welcome the future? As General Pueyrredon’s City Council moves forward with this and other projects requiring special permissions, the voices of those defending the city’s architectural soul grow louder.
At the heart of it all is a simple plea—to build wisely, to dream carefully, and to never forget the homes, the lives, and the history that came before. For some, this tower represents growth, prosperity, and the future. For others, it is a giant shadow that risks swallowing all that they hold dear.
The story of Mar del Plata is not yet finished. The towers may rise, but the heart of the city, with its quiet chalets and echoing waves, will continue to beat. How it beats—whether in harmony with the future or in mourning for the past—is yet to be seen.
