Trump Tower project in Buenos Aires cancelled
A few days after the shocking victory of Donald Trump in the United States presidential election, a rumor began circulating that Trump planned to disembark in Buenos Aires with a luxury tower. The rumor was confirmed at the time, and ground-breaking was expected to begin in mid-2017 on the tower.
The $100 million project included a 35-story tower with a total of 47,000 m² (505,000 ft²) of floor space, was scheduled for completion in 2020. The project, according to its Argentine developers however, was suspended indefinitely.
"The Trump family decided to cancel all works outside the United States that had not yet begun," Juan José Cugliandolo, CEO of YY Development Group, told the media today. "The reality is that due to the changing political landscape in the United States, we'll leave any decisions as to future steps to them (Trump). There is nothing concrete."
The controversy in the United States over Trump's potential conflicts of interest reached Argentina on November 20 when Jorge Lanata's current events program, Periodismo para todos ('Journalism for All'), aired a segment by Romina Manguel that revealed that in the first telephone conversation between Trump and Argentine President Mauricio Macri after the election, Macri had received a special request to expedite the necessary permits for the project - a prerogative of the City of Buenos Aires, not the Argentine president.
The news had repercussions in American media, and the project - which the city never approved - has not been discussed since.
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If that's what happened, it certainly speaks well of the new mayor (Horacio Rodríguez Larreta) - a man who, despite being of the same party as Macri, has turned out to be a much better mayor I'm happy to say.
This is particularly the case in regards to housing programs, where Rodríguez Larreta has been increasing sending appreciably. Macri, you might recall, used to spend much more on publicity ($95 million in 2015) as mayor than in all housing programs combined ($60 million).
Having said that, my hope is that some developer might actually develop that lot before too long. I understand that part of the problem is that all interested developers want the old parking garage (for demolition) as well as the adjacent parking lot - but the owner of the garage isn't selling no matter what.
The project, you see, wouldn't be as economically viable without both lots b/c local zoning laws require that all new construction along that avenue be of the same height (approx. 12 stories) - and they'd need the extra lot to build the 35-story tower behind it.
That street corner (google 'Cerrito 90 Buenos Aires' for the street view) could really use a revitalization.
Thanks as always for your thoughts, Judi. 
It's also great learning the same party does have some decent people in it, despite the monstrous image created by Macri throughout his overstay there.
Good to be reminded of where his principles showed themselves during his occupation of the mayor's office, when Mayor Macri believed his image mattered more than the need for shelter for the many unfortunate, helpless poor people of that huge city.
