El Olivar residents appeal to stop home demolitions in Viña del Mar

Residents of the El Olivar sector in Viña del Mar have filed a new protection recourse with the Valparaíso Court of Appeals to halt the demolition of their homes. The legal action targets Housing Minister Iván Poduje and regional minister Marcelo Ruiz following orders from the Ministry of Housing to demolish the properties.

The homes were built as part of the reconstruction plan following the devastating 2024 mega-fires. While the Ministry has ordered demolition, judicial expert reports have indicated that the issues are not due to construction flaws, but rather stem from project design, structural calculations, and formulation.

Legal representatives for the families have denounced a “covert demolition” and expressed concern over the homes being left vulnerable to vandalism and theft. Meanwhile, San Sebastián Construction is seeking legal solutions and has requested that the Comptroller General determine the disqualification of the Minister and the regional minister due to a lack of impartiality in administrative processes.