More than 25 hectares of land were donated so that 22 state institutions can build their offices in the canton of Garabito.
This project and public-private partnership between the local municipality and Quebrada Bonita Desarrollodores is called the Government District and is valued at approximately $170 million.
The initiative aims to bring together entities that provide services in a specific area. According to Rafael Vargas, representative of Quebrada Bonita, in the canton only the Municipality and the Red Cross have their own buildings. All entities pay a rent. Therefore they seek to jointly build the project to save costs.
The developers would also sell nearby lots with which they would recover the investment of the project. This has caused criticism among some sectors that are not in favor of the government district.
At the moment the developers have already rehabilitated more than five kilometers of cantonal roads that were in disuse. Similarly, the project donated almost five kilometers for internal roads that will be declared public.
Vargas also commented that there are already negotiations with private universities since in this area there are practically no opportunities for higher education.
The institutions that received the land are:
• Courts of Justice of the Judiciary
• Governing Area Ministry of Health
• General Traffic Directorate of the MOPT
• Municipality of Garabito
• National Emergency Commission
• Costa Rican Electricity Institute
• Aqueducts and Sewers
• Costa Rican Firefighters
• National Board of Children
• CEN-CINAI
• Health Area of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund
• Costa Rican Red Cross
• Catholic University of Costa Rica
• Garabito Sports Committee
• Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church of Costa Rica
• National Insurance Institute
• Development Association of Jacó
• La Hacienda School
The Government District project has also received criticism because it was pointed out that there could be problems with the land in the face of flood risks. However, recent studies and the analysis of the National Emergency Commission (CNE) endorsed the use of the land and ruled out any risk.
Similarly, the project has the corresponding environmental permits and for the moment the conversations with different institutions and the National Council of Concessions are held with the objective of advancing the project so the construction starts in 2019.
Since July 20, 2017, the Municipal Council of Garabito declared the Government District as a project of cantonal interest.