A massive social housing development of 4,304 apartments has been submitted to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) for environmental review. The project, called INFONAVIT Bahía Real, would occupy 38.86 hectares in the Olas Altas neighborhood of La Paz, roughly 11 kilometers southwest of the city center.
If approved, it would be one of the largest low-income housing developments proposed for the Baja California Sur capital in recent years. The plan calls for 269 four-story buildings, each containing standardized apartments of 60 square meters (about 645 square feet).
How the Land Would Be Used
According to the environmental filing, 66.11% of the site would be designated for residential use. Roads would account for 19.84% of the land, with green areas taking up 7.49%. Commercial space would cover 4.01%, and urban amenities would make up the remaining 2.55%.
The project falls under INFONAVIT’s Housing for Well-being Program, which aims to expand access to affordable housing through higher-density vertical construction. INFONAVIT is Mexico’s federal housing finance institute, the country’s largest mortgage lender for working-class families.
Environmental Concerns and Water Stress
The environmental impact filing acknowledges significant negative effects during construction. These include soil disruption, dust, noise, and displacement of local wildlife. The filing also flags the La Paz 0324 Aquifer, which already faces stress from the city’s growing population.
For water service during operations, the development would rely on OOMSAPAS La Paz, the municipal water and sanitation agency. The filing states the project would not place added pressure on the aquifer, though that claim will face scrutiny during SEMARNAT’s review. Wastewater treatment would need to comply with federal standards under NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, with no direct discharge into national waterways.
A 50-Year Timeline
The proposed timeline is notably long. Site preparation and construction would span six years, followed by 44 years of operation and maintenance, giving the project a total planned lifespan of 50 years. That means construction activity near Olas Altas could affect the surrounding area well into the early 2030s at minimum.
Approval from SEMARNAT hinges on strict compliance with environmental mitigation measures. The agency has not yet announced a timeline for its review. La Paz has seen growing development pressure in recent years as its population increases and demand for both market-rate and affordable housing rises.
The story was first reported by the Gringo Gazette.