Whispers of the past linger here in Loma Verde. It is a place of undulating landscapes and unexpected turns. Loma Verde is an Argentine town in the Escobar region north of Buenos Aires. Shall we explore its story?
Loma Verde stretches along both sides of National Route 9. The route spans from kilometer 52 to 58. This area of about 16 square kilometers rests on the Lujan River’s wetlands. Loma Verde had about 5000 people in 2012. It is the least populated town in Escobar.
The highway is a physical barrier. It hinders local integration and economic activity. Three small streams cross Loma Verde. They intersect National Route 9 at kilometers 52, 54, and 56. The land’s gentle hills give Loma Verde its name. Early settlers called this area Huincul Caru. That was the name used by native people. Loma Verde grew spontaneously. There were only cows and dairy farms in the early 20th century. The area was subdivided in the 1940s. The first neighborhoods and gardens appeared then.
Many families started building weekend homes in the 1960s. This happened when the Pan-American Highway was completed. One of the first things you see is the towers. These towers still stand out after four decades. They are part of the neighborhood’s daily scene.
Argentina was under a military dictatorship in the 1960s. General Juan Carlos Onganía ruled the country. A satellite city was planned those years. It was meant to go beyond what was known at the time. It would have every luxury. Only the country’s most exclusive people would have access. The Motel Los Techos Negros operated until the early 1970s. The motel had two wings with ten rooms each. Every room had a private bathroom. There was a huge hall for residents. A large kitchen prepared food. It served as a restaurant and for elegant parties.
In 1973, the Institute of Social Services for Railway Personnel bought the property. Another pavilion was built. It became a nursing home for retired railway workers. There were 24-hour doctors and nurses. The nursing home was self-sufficient for a while. The dairy farm made milk and cheese. The garden grew vegetables. Fruit trees produced fruit. They even made sweets. A small chapel was built. It was named Our Lady of the Snows. The Institute sold the property to the Evergreen Foundation in the late 1990s. This Taiwanese community built a wall around it.
That is how the idea of Ciudad Cerutti was born. The abandoned construction became a dangerous playground. Children from Loma Verde spent hours there. They hid behind its gray walls.
Loma Verde had 3205 people in 2001. It was the 6th most populated unit in the district. This area near the Luján River has small hills. These hills form ravines. They create a picturesque view for visitors. Much of Loma Verde is forested. There are small forests and large soybean fields.
There are weekend houses and private neighborhoods today. These include San Sebastián, Haras Santa María, Loma Verde, and others. The region has low seismicity. The last earthquake was on June 5, 1888.
Fernando de la Rúa died in Loma Verde in 2019.
The botanical garden La Quintina is a place to visit. The private street El Castillo is on Boote Street. There are nurseries and gardens in the area. Also, find a shopping center and services at the neighborhood’s entrance.
So, as we conclude our visit to Loma Verde. Remember its ever-changing story. The story is woven from natural beauty and human dreams.