Necochea's iconic casino auctioned for 4.878 billion pesos; ambitious real estate project planned
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- The emblematic Casino of Necochea, Argentina, was auctioned for 4.878 billion pesos to the company 'A toda vela Mar SA'.
- The new owner plans an ambitious real estate project to revitalize the beachfront property, which has suffered from abandonment and vandalism since 2015.
- The municipality, owner of the property, aims to recover the site, which includes a small functioning casino and will undergo further processes for its burned auditorium.
The historic Casino of Necochea, a symbol of the city's decline due to years of neglect, has been sold at auction. The company "A toda vela Mar SA" secured the property for 4.878 billion pesos, matching the base price set by the municipality. This sale marks a potential turning point for the beachfront complex, which has fallen into disrepair since 2015.
Oscar Merlo, representing the Balcarce-based business group with ties to the gaming industry, expressed a mix of excitement and trepidation about the venture. "It is a problem, it is an adventure, it is an illusion, all of that together," he stated. His company, already involved in automotive businesses, urban developments, and an ice cream parlor, has also begun reconstructing a beachfront establishment in Necochea, signaling a commitment to the city's tourism sector.
It is a problem, it is an adventure, it is an illusion, all of that together.
The 26,500-square-meter property, once a vibrant hub featuring a casino, restaurant, bowling alley, and swimming pool, has been largely derelict. Vandalism and the harsh coastal environment have taken their toll, exacerbated by a lack of maintenance. A significant portion, the auditorium, was destroyed in a 2020 fire and will be subject to a separate auction process.
Intendant Arturo Rojas hailed the sale as the "beginning of a new Necochea," despite previous setbacks, including a temporary injunction that had delayed the auction. The successful sale, following a court's decision to reinstate the process, offers a glimmer of hope for the revitalization of this iconic, albeit deteriorated, landmark.
The new Necochea began to be born.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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