Valparaíso Court upholds construction halt in El Olivar

The Valparaíso Court of Appeals has upheld the suspension of reconstruction works in the El Olivar sector of Viña del Mar. The court rejected legal challenges filed by affected families, the sponsoring entity Social Arquitectura, and the construction firm San Sebastián, who sought to reverse the halt.

The suspension was originally ordered in March by the Minister of Housing and Urbanism, Iván Poduje, regarding housing projects intended for victims of the 2024 mega-fire. The court ruled that the technical discrepancies involved require specialized expert assessments and a formal trial with an evidentiary stage, noting that the challenges did not demonstrate a clear violation of laws or regulations.

Marcelo Ruiz, the regional minister of Housing for Valparaíso, defended the decision, stating that the government cannot permit the delivery of new homes when serious technical reports regarding structural integrity and fire resistance question their safety. The ministry intends to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.