Expropriation Planned of Historic San Jose Home

Jiménez de la Guardia is the name for which this historic home in Costa Rica is known. Located in San Jose, 75 meters north of the Cine Variedades on calle cinco the structure was declared, “Patrimonio Histórico”, which requires that the owners ensure for restoration and conservation.

Unfortunately in the case of Jiménez de la Guardia control of the property has been in dispute for several years and no one has maintained the structure. According to La Nacion the registered owner of the property is Maroy S.A., and a case pending in Second Judical Cirucit of San Jose prevents the legal representative from exercising control over the property. Subsequently it has been impossible for the private interest to maintain the building.

Recently groups of indigents were caught stripping the building. Toilet fixtures, wood floors and other materials have been removed while the front of the property is strewn with debris.

Members of the community were able to convince city offices to take an interest in the property, and for now the vandalism has ended.

More photos from inside Jimenez Guardia are available on the Barrio Bird Blog.

A government agency is now working to expropriate and restore the building. The exact time frame is unclear, however a 2011 budget request has been made for El Centro de Patrimonio to undertake the project.

Hopefully the home known as Jiménez de la Guardia will not suffer the same fate as the adjacent National Library, which was demolished in 1971. At the time there was no law to protect historic structures and the building had passed to private ownership.

Look closely and you will see the remnants of the library walls surrounding what is today a downtown parking lot.

Jiménez de La Guardia known as Edificio Maroy was declared Patrimonio Histórico Arquitectónico according to decree published in La Gaceta as N°27488-C y N° 28555-C.

Filed Under: Local News

Tags: history • Jiménez de la Guardia