Matías Sierra leads the push for change. As Necochea’s Secretary of Productive Development and Tourism, he’s banking on the casino sale to jumpstart the city’s coastal revival. The Argentine city approved selling its Casino Complex, a waterfront property that’s sat mostly empty despite its prime location.
Juan Cerezuela sees things differently. The incoming councilman from La Libertad Avanza doesn’t take office until December 10, but he’s already raising red flags about how this went down.
Local business leaders are watching too. They’ve noted the $9 million base auction price sits well above typical Necochea property values.
Why This Sale Matters Now
The casino isn’t the only property changing hands. City officials recently handed over the former ACA beach resort through a concession deal. Sierra connected both moves during a recent statement.
“The sale of the casino is going to be the initial kick-off so that, once and for all, Necochea has the development it deserves,” he said.
Tourism numbers are picking up. The city extended its tourism office hours through summer to handle increased visitor activity. Mid-December brings the Sur Cup, an international youth soccer championship that’ll draw more crowds to the waterfront area.
The Casino Complex has stayed underutilised for years. Municipal officials view fixing that as critical to their broader coastal strategy.
What Happened During Approval
The process moved fast. Too fast, according to Cerezuela.
His team got a 100-page PDF at 7pm one evening. By 10am the next morning, they had to vote on it. “That is not serious, it is improvisation, that is the old politics,” Cerezuela said.
He didn’t oppose finding solutions for the Casino Complex. He opposed the timeline.
“We all agree that something has to be done,” he explained. But then came his criticism: “Our bloc wants to help the Mayor but for him to show us responsibility on the other side.”
Transaction details haven’t been made public yet. Development plans for the property remain undisclosed.
How This Splits Local Politics
Municipal leadership frames this as Necochea’s big chance. They’re linking the casino sale directly to broader waterfront redevelopment goals. The combination of the casino deal and the ACA resort concession signals their strategy for the coastal strip.
Cerezuela and his liberal party colleagues want progress too. They’re just not buying the rushed approach.
His bloc takes their council seats in five days. They’re already signalling they’ll push for more transparency in future deals.
The Casino Complex sits on valuable waterfront real estate. Whether its sale becomes the catalyst Sierra promises or another rushed decision depends partly on what happens after December 10. The incoming opposition will have a say then.
And the question of whether $9 million represents fair value remains unanswered. Local business leaders think it’s high for the market. But city officials haven’t publicly addressed those concerns yet.
