Mexico Follows Spanish lead in closing developments

Apparently following Spain’s decision to seek and destroy unapproved property developments, Mexico is beginning to crack down on developments that were built without appropriate permission

The cynic in me thinks this is more a case of “paid off the wrong mayoral candidate.”

Five small luxury hotels were closed by the authorities on Tulum’s beaches recently, causing an uproar over who owns the title. Title disputes have haunted the Tulum beach for decades. At the heart of this dispute, however, is whether the hotels were built in a federal park.

Federal environmental prosecutor Patricio Patron says the land is protected and the government wants to eventually demolish the buildings and leave the area untouched. But he says bulldozers won’t arrive for a year or more as the cases work their way through Mexican courts.

John Kendall, owner of Mezzanine, a 10-room resort featuring a beachside restaurant and bar, says the federal government just wants to take back land that is worth millions of dollars.

“The pretext is totally fabricated,” he said.

Ari Kantrowitz, a New York City graduate student, said he and his girlfriend were in the pool Monday when two bureaucrats walked up, carrying clipboards and signs that said “closed” in Spanish.

“Suddenly, walking behind them were four guys in full fatigues, helmets and carrying M16 rifles. It was somewhat surreal,” he said. “We sort of just sat in the pool … After a bit, I assumed it was the Mexican government and not some rogue militia.”

If this reminds you of recent happenings in Spain, you would not be incorrect in your assessment. The Spanish authorities have been doing much the same thing for the last two years, with bull-dozed developments all along the coast.

Caveat Emptor.