real estate

Debris rains down on homes

Víctor Arosemena/LA PRENSA

battle looming: San Francisco residents living near street-level say that debris from high-rise projects is making their lives miserable. The government has said it can do little about the problem.1100812

In the San Francisco area, a struggle is going on that has reminded some of the Biblical tale of David and Goliath.

The Goliath in this case is the developers of the residential towers that have started to spring up in the community. David is represented by the owners of houses and smaller buildings living in their shadows.

The problem is that construction debris from these large projects are raining down upon their neighbors, at times with damaging results.

Irene de Stahl, the chair of the board of directors of one of these smaller buildings, P.H. Los Pilares, has plenty of complaints about the building going up next to her residence.

In a complaint she filed against the promoters of the building, known as The View, De Stahl said that, since work started on it in 2006, her quality of life has been negatively impacted.

She said that construction was initiated without implementing the necessary measures to protect her building and the lives of those living there.

As a result, the roofs of the social area and that of the parking lot have been destroyed by materials falling from the project.

“We have not been able to use the social area in nearly two years because anyone who goes out there risks being injured,” she said. “In addition, the pool is no longer usable because the filter can't handle all the sand.”

What is more uncomfortable for residents of Los Pilares is that all the authorities they have complained to have responded that they do not have the jurisdiction to order the developers to compensate them for the damage they caused.

The promoter did place a protective roof over the neighboring property, but that was also destroyed by falling objects.

Jaime Salas, the director of works and construction for Panama City, said there is little that can be done because the project was approved by the Ministerio de Vivienda.

“Those who have complaints in this aspect should make them directly to that entity,” he said.

De Stahl has considered filing a lawsuit, but said that she doesn't believe it would do much good. By the time the case is heard, she expects the promoter will be long gone.

Mirna Guillén, who lives at the intersection of Calle 73 and 74, said she has had a similar experience with Grupo Quat in the construction of the Quadrat Tower.

She said that the project also endangers vehicles, because falling debris often lands in the street.

Resident Raúl Puente has another worry. He is concerned about the area's water supply once all these buildings are finished.

He asked: “What will happen when the four towers being built near my home are ready?”

Urban planner Álvaro Uribe said that the government should establish a fund to upgrade the area's infrastructure. He suggested that it be funded by a fee charged to the developers of projects in the area.