Villa Luzuriaga

One June day in 1939, the Honorable Deliberative Council of La Matanza officially recognized Villa Luzuriaga. But the story of Villa Luzuriaga begins much earlier. The Méndez family, owners of a vast estancia named “Las Margaritas,” held sway over this land. In 1908, they decided to divide and sell their property. This marked the birth of Villa Luzuriaga. The original plots sold quickly. New residents began to build their homes, creating the first neighborhood affectionately known as “la Villa Vieja.” Villa Luzuriaga wouldn’t hold its original name for long though. Dr. Julio Félix Luzuriaga Chávez, a prominent lawyer and historian, entered the scene. In 1921, he purchased a city block within the burgeoning Villa Las Margaritas. While his land holdings were small compared to the Méndez family’s, his family had patriotic lineage. This connection reached the highest levels of government, with his sister married to Dr. Ramón S. Castillo. Dr. Castillo would later become the Vice President, then President, of Argentina. Some residents initially protested the name change, believing it was a vanity project. Luzuriaga maintained it was to honor his great-great uncle, General Toribio de Luzuriaga, a hero of the War of Independence. Eventually, Luzuriaga prevailed. The town took on the name of Villa Luzuriaga. Over the years, Villa Luzuriaga continued to grow. Various housing plans emerged. These included those for unions, cooperatives, state corporations, and private individuals. The construction of single-family homes with ample green space became the norm. Today, Villa Luzuriaga boasts a diverse array of neighborhoods. These include the original Villa Vieja, Marina, Villa María Mazzarello, and many others. Each possesses a unique character and history. While it shares a postal code with San Justo and primarily serves as a residential area, Villa Luzuriaga officially became a city in 2009. It remains a testament to the vision of the Méndez family and the influence of Dr. Julio Félix Luzuriaga Chávez, whose name became synonymous with the town itself.