Cinelandia on monument list?

December 02, 2010 5:32 AM

The lawsuit, that has been running since October 2008 on the question whether the Cinelandia-building should remain on the monument list, was brought before the Court again today.

During the session, the judge visited the location today. Spectators were able to follow the technical explanation, whereby it became clear that the building could be restored.

The dispute arose after owner Fernando da Costa Gomez had requested the Board of Governors (BC) to remove the building from the list and the BC had given their cooperation. The institute Pro Monumento (ProMo), fearing sudden demolition of the monumental building, took legal action. Today it is still unclear when the judge will give a decision on the case.

ProMo views the open-air theater as a building with historic value. ProMo is of the opinion that a thorough restoration and the conservation of the current building are possible. Since 1992, the institute has been battling to prevent demolition of the Cinelandia building. Lawyer Laura Fresco is representing ProMo. During the summer months of 2008, the island government decided to place the art-deco building – along with six other buildings – on the monument list. The owner fought this case and the BC subsequently decided to reverse their decision.
ProMo then instituted the lawsuit that is still in progress now. Fresco states that at the time the judge decided to reverse the BC’s decision temporarily. That meant the building had to be put on the monument list again for the time being, before the judge took his final decision. “This means the owner may not simply give the order to demolish the building. ProMo namely fears that another building will disappear from the inner city”, according to Fresco.

Fundashon Pro Monumento was represented in these proceedings by Laura Fresco of VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne. The Government and N.V. Handelmaatschappij C.M.O.G. were represented by mrs. E.R.A. Morillo en L. Virginia (HBN Law).

30 November 2010