Nahuel Lanzillotta
08/05/2021 15:39
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 08/05/2021 3:40 PM
More than Néstor Ortigoza's penalty in the 2014 Copa Libertadores final. More than any championship.
The approval in second reading of the Rezoning Law that allows San Lorenzo to get rid of legal impediments to be able to return definitively to Boedo was celebrated more than anything in the world by the thousands of fans who were present this Thursday from early in the door of the City Legislature.
"I promise you that very soon we will raise the steps again in Boedo"
, was the song -one of many- of the fanatics
crows
that once again took over the Buenos Aires center with flags, chinstraps, jackets, hats, scarves, t-shirts and much breath.
And that sung promise can be said to be a reality in the coming years after this key step that took longer than necessary.
Hence the hugs, tears, jumps, and clenched fists.
They were 14 years of legal struggle within the Legislature.
It all started in 2007 with the approval of Law 2,464 with which the club recovered the square where the Roberto Pando Sports Center is located today.
It followed in 2012 with Law 4,384 of Historical Restitution through which San Lorenzo bought back the property from Carrefour with the contribution of its fans in a trust.
In fact, although in 2019 the Boedo institution took possession of the land, it still remains to pay the last installment.
And it is negotiated between both parties for the 8,000 square meters that the French company still has on the block.
San Lorenzo Celebration in the Legislature for the Rezoning Law.
Photo: @SanLorenzo
The end of the long road of almost a decade and a half came this afternoon with
the final green light for the Rezoning Law -54 votes in favor and one abstention-
, the process of which was very cumbersome for the club.
For example, the first project presented was stalled and a new one had to be presented, which was entered by the legislator Manuel Socías (Frente de Todos), a man close to Matías Lammens, vice president of San Lorenzo and minister of Tourism and Sports of the Nation.
The first reading was approved without votes against (a single abstention) in November of last year.
And then a public hearing was held in which more than 700 residents of the City participated, with 97 percent of them demonstrating in favor of the cause.
In the middle, the club made more than 17 thousand calls and 4 thousand surveys and more than 25 virtual meetings with about a thousand participants to learn about the concerns of the citizens of the neighborhood about the project.
At the same time, the City Government consulted by mail, social networks, telephone, personally and with virtual meetings with the neighbors, obtaining 56,350 responses on the needs and priorities of the neighborhood that were incorporated into the project presented.
The project of the Spanish company IDOM, in charge of planning, absorbed the concerns and needs raised by the people and, in addition to presenting a modern court in the style "365" with the idea that it is open every day of the year, has in its plans the realization of parking lots, a historical museum, a school, a detachment of the City Police, a headquarters of the Buenos Aires Tourist Bus with the option of tours of the stadium, offices, a shopping gallery, green spaces for use daily public, a new closed multipurpose sports center, the possibility of building a hotel and installing a CGP of the City.
The estimated investment is about 15 billion pesos.
San Lorenzo Celebration in the Legislature for the Rezoning Law.
Photo: @SanLorenzo
For this final approval it was necessary to sign an urban agreement between the
Cyclone
and the City of Buenos Aires through which the club undertakes as consideration to contribute to the construction of two educational establishments.
One will be located in Doblas 1768, in the Boedo neighborhood, and the other in Varela 2765, in the Nueva Pompeya neighborhood.
"The sanction of this law will give San Lorenzo fans the opportunity to return home. In addition to the logical joy and excitement that they will feel on this historic day, I hope that this challenge will be carried out with respect and the corresponding cooperation. for a healthy coexistence with the neighbors, "said deputy Daniel Del Sol (Vamos Juntos), president of the Urban Planning Commission.
What's coming
What are the next steps to take?
Now the approved Law must be published by the official gazette. The next question will have to do with the clearing and demolition of the current structure of the property, which today functions as the largest vaccination post in the Federal Capital. The agreement with the Buenos Aires government is still in force for three months and has a clause by which the Barça entity can unilaterally rescind.
The presentation of all the project documentation to obtain the construction permits will be another mandatory and fundamental advance.
But the central question for the leadership has to do with obtaining the funds to finance this great work.
"We have already had five meetings with foreign investment groups. There are two very serious investment projects,"
said Miguel Mastrosimone,
Cuervo
secretary
, in
La Cicloneta
.
It is estimated that this process will take no less than six months, although it could be stretched taking into account the vaccination and the pandemic situation and the time it takes for the presentations.
You will wait a little longer, San Lorenzo, but now without any legal impediment that acts as a barrier to fulfill your maximum dream.