Barranquilla: megaproject worth more than $1 trillion will come to the Gran Malecón; it will include a shopping mall, hotel, offices, and a lagoon

NewsKristal Mall will occupy 150,000 square meters facing the Magdalena River. Private initiative opens a new stage of real estate investment. Kristal Mall will be built along the Gran Malecón corridor, facing the Magdalena River, with an investment of more than $1 trillion. Photo: Social mediaJOURNALIST30.09.2026 17:01 Updated: 30.09.2026 17:01 The Gran Malecón corridor is preparing to receive one of the largest private investments announced in recent years in Barranquilla. It is Kristal Mall, a mixed-use development that will require resources exceeding $1 trillion and will have 150,000 square meters of construction. READ ALSO The project will bring together in one space a shopping center, hotel, offices, parking lots, recreational areas, and a lagoon that will be integrated into the architectural design. It will be developed by the firms Arquitectura y Concreto and YDN, revealed by Mayor Alejandro Char on his X account. Although the start and delivery dates are not yet known, the announcement shows the real estate interest that is beginning to concentrate on the lands near the Magdalena River, after the urban recovery carried out along the western bank of the city."It will be 150,000 square meters of construction and more than $1 trillion to make this project a reality, which will generate employment and development for the people of Barranquilla," Char stated on his X account. A mixed-use commercial complexKristal Mall will not be limited to the operation of commercial stores. The presence of a hotel and corporate spaces will give the project a mixed-use character, with commercial, business, tourist, and recreational activities in one place. Barranquilla returned to the river and made it attractive for investment. Kristal Mall is an example of everything that is arriving. This new shopping center will be located on the Gran Malecón and will have a hotel, offices, and a lagoon that will give a special charm to this space facing… pic.twitter.com/ZUcODGiHV6— Alejandro Char (@AlejandroChar) September 30, 2026 The lagoon will be one of its main attractions and will seek to create a recreational environment around the shopping center. The announced design also includes parking lots and areas intended for the gathering of visitors, workers, and residents of the area. READ ALSO The project aims to meet the demand generated by the Gran Malecón, the Puerta de Oro convention center, and the new residential and business developments built in northern Barranquilla. It could also expand the hotel and office offerings available in this corridor."We are pleased to see that private investors, such as Arquitectura y Concreto and YDN, continue to believe in and bet on our city. All of this has been possible since we decided to face the Magdalena and turn it into the protagonist of our transformation," the mayor expressed. The district administration has not yet reported how many stores the complex will have, the number of hotel rooms, the square meters allocated to offices, or the number of jobs that would be generated during construction and subsequent operation. Nor have the construction schedule, planned phases, urban planning conditions of the site, or the estimated opening date been disclosed. The Malecón as an investment corridorThe location of Kristal Mall reinforces the transformation of the Gran Malecón into a corridor that combines public space, gastronomy, tourism, housing, commerce, and entertainment. The first section was opened on July 17, 2017. In nine years, the project reached an extension of 5.5 kilometers and added cultural, sports, gastronomic, and recreational spaces facing the Magdalena. Mayor Alejandro Char presented the first images of the project. Photo: Social mediaAccording to figures provided by the Mayor's Office, the Malecón has received more than 70 million visitors since its inauguration. This constant flow of people is one of the factors explaining the interest of construction companies, gastronomic operators, hotel chains, and housing developers in establishing themselves in its surroundings. READ ALSO The recovery of the riverfront began with the construction of the Puerta de Oro convention center and continued with the progressive opening of recreational and commercial areas. Currently, the Malecón has five sectors and more than 100,000 square meters of public space in its recreational-sports area alone. In nearby lands, residential projects and mixed-use buildings are also progressing. Kristal Mall would expand this dynamic by introducing an investment of more than $1 trillion concentrated in commerce, hospitality, and business services. Don't missMinister of Justice, Iván Cancino. Photo: Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPPJoin the EL TIEMPO channel on WhatsApp to stay up to date with the most relevant news as it happens. EL TIEMPO APPStay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIGITAL EDITIONReliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.