Playas residents protest proposed Cañada Azteca project

Residents in Playas de Tijuana marched on April 18 to oppose the Civantia project in Cañada Azteca, saying the development would overload the neighborhood. (elimparcial.com) The protest began around 10:00 a.m. at Parque México and moved along Paseo Playas to Parque Azteca Norte, where neighbors and local collectives repeated the slogan “No construcciones, queremos soluciones.” (infobaja.info) Residents identified the project as Civantia, planned for the corner of Paseo Playas and Parque Azteca Norte in Sección Rivera. Reports on April 18 described it as a mixed-use complex with residential towers, a hotel and commercial space. (jornadabc.com.mx) Several local reports said the plan includes nine residential towers of 20 to 25 stories, a hotel of 10 to 12 floors and a shopping center. Punto Norte reported the buildout could reach about 1,600 housing units. (jornadabc.com.mx, puntonorte.info) The fight did not start this week. ZETA reported on April 11 that neighbors said earth-moving work had resumed in the canyon after nearly eight years of organizing against housing construction on the site. (zetatijuana.com) Opponents say the project would add traffic, strain water service and damage a natural drainage corridor that carries runoff toward the coast. La Jornada and BajaNews both described Cañada Azteca as a sensitive urban and environmental area. (jornada.com.mx, bajanews.mx) The dispute has also turned on permits and boundaries. Earlier coverage in September 2025 said municipal authorities maintained the buildings had valid permits from the National Water Commission and the Environment Ministry, while residents argued the work affected a protected arroyo area. (esquina32.info, puntonorte.info) Developers tied to the project have said they hold the required studies, permits and licenses. ZETA reported in October 2025 that executives for Civantia, Grupo Musa and Grupo Ruba said that position had been presented in court. (zetatijuana.com) City planners have also said the conservation polygon should remain intact. In October 2025, the Tijuana Metropolitan Planning Institute said the urban plan’s original limits for Cañada Azteca would be maintained so the private development would not affect the conservation area. (zetatijuana.com) For now, the conflict is back in the street as well as in official files: residents protested again on April 18 and said they will keep pressing authorities to review the project and protect Cañada Azteca. (jornada.com.mx, zetatijuana.com)