In an effort to sell homes once owned by guerrilla and paramilitary forces, Colombia’s government started up an online real estate agency.
There are over 1,600 properties to be sold including farms, homes, apartments, and other land plots. All of these properties have been acquired by the government either by being taken by the government or given to the government by demobilized armed forces.
There stands to be around $140.3m in profit to be made from the selling of these areas. This money would be used as a means of reparations for over seven million people who were victims of the armed conflict that took place. The properties have been slow to sell because of their bloody pasts, having sold only 12 since starting this site in 2018.
In addition to the difficult pasts, a number of the properties listed are in areas where the conflict persists despite the government having signed a peace deal with the Farc five years ago.
There are some who are able to visualize a new future for these properties. One being Sergio Ortiz, a civil engineer.
When presented with a large mansion featuring 12 rooms, 13 bathrooms, a bar, a wine cellar, a number of pools & fountains, gardens, a spiral staircase, and a gold-painted bathtub, Ortiz saw the potential to transform this area.
Where once paramilitary leaders used the mansion to coordinate tragedies including massacres and bombings and trained some of the most fearsome hitmen. Now, Ortiz seeks to create a public space. Specifically, exercise space and park available for public use.
He would also add a center for therapy and a music center. He hopes that in doing so he can help more victims like himself to move forward from their traumatic pasts.
The director of the unit for victims assistance and reparation has been cited as saying, “Through this platform, through our page, we are looking to establish the specific process of selling and renting these properties” in a virtual conference.
Hopefully, they are able to complete this goal and amass more funds for the victims of these crises and help others like Ortiz build a brighter future for everyone.
