Six buildings and a park, the former veterinary school’s IMM and Udelar projects

this Montevideo City (IMM) refers to Department Committee Authorization Request Real Estate InitiativeCalled the “Lasplaces Urban Project,” the project will be located by 2021, Veterinary School of University of the Republic (Udrall) in the diving area.

The property, which is bounded by Luis Alberto de Herrera Avenue and Alberto Lasplaces, Magariños Cervantes, Jacinto Vera and Juan José de Herrera streets, will have to be partially expanded. The project visited by El País was prepared in conjunction with the National Ministry of Construction. Udrar and the IMM Planning Department, with interventions by the Environmental Development, Transport and Urban Development departments.

The initiative promotes “the development of high-density housing, commercial and service areas based on an open urban form, with highly individual buildings and low footprints”.

It will be developed across four defined plots, each with its own particularities, but with the intention of being “primarily residential”.

The first project plans two towers, with a maximum height of 77.5 meters, about 28 floors, and a total construction area of ​​42,000 square meters. The project allows subsequent construction, with a height not exceeding 38.6 meters and an area not exceeding 14,000 square meters.

A third tower is planned on the same plot, with a maximum height of 98.5 meters. Although the area is less than 900 square meters, offices, entertainment or commercial services are allowed. Shopping centers or malls cannot be set up there. Non-building surfaces and the ground floor of the building must be fully or partially available for public use.

In the second plot, two more towers are planned, intended to house shops and other services of a “neighborhood scale” on the ground floor, which must have “active facades” that “create a positive dynamic with the public space”. Specifically on Magariños Cervantes Street, where the main access is located. The height of these towers will be limited to 38.6 meters. On the third plot, he will build two more towers with similar characteristics.

Meanwhile, in the fourth plot, the main destination will be a “collective facility” especially for higher education. It will maintain the concept of a main campus, based on the alternation of low-rise buildings and large tree-lined spaces, with vehicular and pedestrian access.

The presentation states that the “heart” of the project will be a new park of elongated shape, which will be built in the extension of Miguel Martínez Street and open to Luis Alberto de Herrera Avenue. It must respond to a landscape project that allows the preservation and replenishment of existing trees to increase the value of the area. The general concept is “a green park with basic equipment that can be used flexibly as a place of rest and socializing during the day”. The ground floors of several planned buildings should be connected to the park through pedestrian paths.

The project aims to preserve three buildings of heritage value that date back to the early 20th century and are part of the college’s campus. They are the Old Laboratory and Class Hall, the Anatomy Hall and the Medical and Surgical Hospital. In addition, it is said that the “extraordinary talent” of plant specimens on the property will be protected.

The IMM will provide for the development of the project for a maximum period of five years, renewable for a similar period. Before authorising the commencement of works, the owner must provide a development security equal to 10% of the value determined for the works to be carried out.

More than 5 hectares of land owned by the University of the Republic has not been used since the School of Veterinary Medicine moved to its current location (18 km on Highway 8).

Among other proposals, CH Mayor Matilde Antía proposed transforming it into an “urban forest” by 2022. At the time of the relocation, the value of the property was estimated at $25 million, taking into account the cost of one square meter in the area. As Channel 12 reported at the time, the university planned to use the resources from the sale to build new faculties of chemistry and humanities.