‘Build Ciudad at your own risk’

IT won’t be smooth sailing for the developer of the  P1.2-billion Ciudad project if you ask Cebu City Vice Mayor  Joy Augustus Young.

“I am warning them not to make the most  expensive mistake in the history of Cebu,” Young told Cebu Daily News.

He referred to a May 26, 2009, city ordinance that declared all Friar lands, which includes the site of the proposed  Ciudad joint venture with the Capitol along the Banilad-Talamban road, as intended only for  public use such as socialized housing.

Young said the city could take legal action against Fifth Avenue Development Corp. if they proceed.

The Ciudad project sits between the Asiatown IT park in barangay Lahug and barangay Apas.

Fifth Avenue has applied for a locational clearance with  the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).

It was given marching orders by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to start work soon and finish the project within the year.

City Planning Officer Alipio Bacalso said it would take a week or two for his office to act on the application, which is  a requirement for a  building permit.

Young said the city zoning board, which reviews the application, should be reminded of the Friar lands ordinance.

“I am giving them a fair warning,” said Young.

Capitol officials earlier scoffed at the view that a  City Hall moratorium on development in the Banilad-Talamban Road was in effect given the rise of other new buildings there.

Young cautioned that this was a misleading notion because  other  ongoing development projects are not located on Friar lands.

“If they think they could build because the mayor is friendly with them and Capitol is friendly with them, that is fine with me.  But we are giving them a warning,” Young said.

The vice mayor said even Mayor Michael  Rama is not in the position to question the Friar lands ordinance because he approved it when he was still acting mayor in the absence of  of Tomas Osmeña, who was abroad for cancer treatment.

Osmeña, now a congressman, said he would continue to oppose the Cuidad project even if he is no longer mayor.

He said the project would only worsen traffic along the northern corridor. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac