Cozumel Officials Clarify Demolition on Waterfront Property, No New Construction Permitted

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel officials have clarified that a demolition underway on a waterfront property has no associated permits for new construction, amid local speculation about the site’s future.

Diego Lope Mena, director of Urban Development for Cozumel, stated that the property owners only have authorization to demolish existing structures. The one-year demolition license was granted approximately six months ago, and no building permits have been issued for the site.

“The application submitted by the owners is limited to the demolition of the existing structures,” Lope Mena explained. He said the goal is to provide residents with a different view of a space that had been used for years as a shelter for homeless individuals and generated social problems.

The demolition began with a significant incident: a large fire broke out on the first night of work, requiring intervention from firefighters. While the cause remains undetermined, it is presumed the fire may have been set in protest by individuals who had been sheltering at the location.

Lope Mena outlined the owners’ obligations, which include removing all resulting material to an authorized final destination and maintaining safety measures to prevent risks to neighbors and the environment. He noted the property had previously sustained damage during a hurricane when part of the roof collapsed onto a transformer, a situation the owners addressed.

Authorities are monitoring environmental protections during the debris removal, with specific attention to waste from polystyrene ceiling panels and spheres that can turn to dust and pollute the sea. Lope Mena assured that officials are closely following the process to ensure safety measures are met and avoid any environmental impact.

He reiterated that there is currently no new project or authorization to build on the land. “If in the future the owners decide to create a viewpoint or a public space, it would be welcome,” Lope Mena said, “but for now the only valid permit is for demolition.”

Speculation about the property’s future has included a rumored connection to the company Xcaret. Lope Mena clarified there is no confirmation of such a link and, due to personal data protection laws, the owner’s name cannot be disclosed.