The historic center of Asunción is facing a significant crisis, with around 25% of its heritage in a state of abandonment. Of approximately 1,300 historic properties, about 450 are completely abandoned or at risk, including streets, mansions, and buildings that were once symbols of the capital's identity but are now closed, deteriorated, or converted into parking lots.
Architect Luis Moya stressed that protecting this heritage should be treated as a public policy, emphasizing the need for municipal management with resources, planning, and continuity to reverse this troubling situation.
In addition to the abandonment of properties, the microcentro of Asunción is suffering from depopulation. While 20 years ago the area had around 40,000 residents, that number dropped to approximately 20,000 in 2012 and, since 2022, has hovered around just 3,000 inhabitants. This population decline further aggravates the state of the historic heritage, as it reduces the vitality and care for the central urban space.