The famous Santa Cruz beach of Las Teresitas is gearing up for a major revitalization by the end of 2025. This beloved coastal spot in San Andrés will see extensive enhancements including spacious pedestrian promenades, commercial zones, inviting terraces, expanded sandy areas, additional parking facilities, enhanced lighting, and the notable addition of a luxurious five-star hotel offering approximately 200 rooms.
These initiatives are aimed at modernising and improving the coastal area, driven by the revision of the 2005 General Planning Plan (PGO) which the Capital City Council will oversee for the Anaga coastline. However, as highlighted by the Councilor for Urban Planning, Zaida González, these improvements are contingent on the economic viability of the modified urban land in Las Teresitas. This necessitates the construction of a compact hotel, positioned away from the beachfront, to stimulate economic growth in the region. Following the consensus reached in a municipal plenary session in November 2023, the City Council initiated a preliminary consultation in February to gather feedback from locals and organisations affected by the impending changes. The consultation, which concluded last Friday, received a total of 24 contributions with a predominant focus on addressing the challenges targeted by the proposed modifications.
Neighbourhood groups and civic associations have shared their perspectives via the Urban Planning Management platform regarding the future revamp of the beach, with significant discontent expressed towards the planned hotel construction in Las Teresitas. Comments included: “Instead of prioritising urbanisation and hotel expansion, emphasis should be on improving public transport and existing infrastructure”; “The prospect of a hotel alarms me as a San Andrés resident. I am not against progress, but I am wary of the proposed developments”; and “I view the construction of a beachfront hotel as nonsensical, likely to bring more issues than benefits,” as articulated by the respondents.
Furthermore, participants in this consultation advocated for a fully illuminated beach, installation of fountains and sculptures in homage to fishermen, a visitor centre, terraced gardens on the mountain slopes, parks featuring zip lines, expanded boardwalks and biking lanes, parking provisions, a small bar at the viewpoint, and increased shower and toilet facilities. However, it was stressed that these changes must not compromise the environmental health, biodiversity, and natural beauty of Las Teresitas.
Highlighting the council’s intentions, Zaida González reaffirmed that the objective is not merely profit-driven hotel construction, but rather a strategic move to generate employment opportunities in the San Andrés and Anaga area. This aligns with the stipulations outlined in the forthcoming General Urban Planning Plan (PGO) for Las Teresitas, ensuring the economic sustainability necessary for its implementation.
González also noted that the PGO modification has been entrusted to the public entity Gestur, which has drafted a preliminary proposal outlining the future urban development strategies for the beach’s public spaces. Once this draft, along with the strategic environmental assessment, is submitted, the City Council will present it to the municipal plenary session for final approval, anticipated by the end of 2024.
Subsequently, the definitive proposal will be formulated, integrating the specifications of the Strategic Environmental Declaration. This comprehensive process aims to facilitate interventions in Las Teresitas within a two-year timeframe following its completion.
Overturning a Nullified PGO for Seaside Progress
In 2009, the municipal plenary assembly decided to shelve the initial project for urbanising the Las Teresitas waterfront, leading to the revision of the prevailing planning instrument and the establishment of a new PGO in 2013. However, this plan was invalidated by a judicial ruling in 2017, which consequently impacted the majority of the city’s special initiatives. Consequently, the current planning directives reflect the 2005 PGO, underscoring the urgency to expedite actions through minor adjustments to avoid a prolonged six-year wait for the approval of the capital’s new PGO.
