Casa Tlalpan will host the Rosario Castellanos and a bachelor's school with artistic orientation

The Mexican government has announced plans to transform the former home of Arturo "El Negro" Durazo Moreno, a former police chief of Mexico City, into a new campus for the National University Rosario Castellanos and a national high school focused on arts education. The property, located in San Andrés Totoltepec along the federal highway to Cuernavaca, will see an investment of 150 million pesos for both educational institutions. The announcement was made during President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning press conference. The site, identified by authorities as a symbol of corruption due to the excesses attributed to Durazo, will house the new university unit in Tlalpan borough. The university is set to begin operations in 2027, while the high school will have 12 classrooms and focus on arts and culture. The project is part of an initiative to expand access to public education. Mónica Fernández Balboa, director general of the Institute for Returning Stolen Property to the People, stated that the property, built in the 1970s, was returned to federal ownership after illegal operations related to its possession were detected. The offense at the time was tax fraud. The land spans over six hectares and includes a main house, a nightclub, a mini-circuit with Roman sculptures, helipads, stables, bull rings, a horse racing track, a casino, a swimming pool, a shooting range, two artificial lakes, a room for classic cars, a greenhouse, and sports courts. Previously, part of the property had been allocated to the Mexican Academy of Sciences for educational and scientific activities. However, with the new project, the academy will have another space, though its location is still being determined. The government indicated that several recovered properties are available for consideration by the academy. President Sheinbaum emphasized that the land would be given to residents of Tlalpan who suffered from abuses linked to the property. She highlighted that Tlalpan, which she once led as a delegate, has seen the greatest reduction in perceived insecurity in Mexico City. She praised Mayor Gabriela Osorio for her work in the borough. Alma Xóchitl Herrera Márquez, rector of the National University Rosario Castellanos, noted that the new academic unit would fully commence operations in 2027 as part of the university’s expansion nationwide. The university, established in 2019 as the Institute of Higher Studies of Mexico City, Rosario Castellanos, currently has six units and six subunits. She mentioned that many students from Tlalpan currently travel to other boroughs for higher education. Jesús Esteva Medina, head of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation, stated that the construction of the General High School number 13 would cost nearly 100 million pesos. The institution will feature modern infrastructure, designed academic spaces, and will be integrated with the surrounding forest, respecting existing trees. It will include 12 classrooms for 50 students each, a computer lab, workshops for performing arts classes, bathrooms, meeting rooms, a sports area, and a multi-purpose court. Mayor Gabriela Osorio expressed gratitude for the projects benefiting students living in remote areas such as Zona de Parres, Topilejo, Magdalena, Xicalco, Santo Tomás, San Miguel Ajusco. She noted that current students make round trips of up to two hours to attend other universities. She thanked the government for making it a reality that more schools, high schools, and universities will be accessible near homes and towns.