Key Highlights of the CDCD Auction
- Capital Raised: The City Mayor's Office generated $41.987 billion COP by selling 204,815 certificates at $205,000 COP each.
- Pioneering Project: Marval utilized 19,800 certificates to obtain the urban license for Soho 26 Urban District.
- Ecological Allocation: Revenue is designated for ecological restoration in protected high-value environmental zones.
Bogotá has officially transformed urban planning revenue into physical expansion through its first auction of Construction and Development Rights Certificates (CDCD)
The Landmark CDCD Auction and Financial Revenue
The administration of Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán, working alongside the Secretariats of Planning, Habitat, and Environment and the Urban Renewal and Development Corporation of Bogotá (RenoBo), conducted its first public auction of Construction and Development Rights Certificates (CDCD). Held on April 27, 2026, the public bidding process successfully raised $41.987 billion COP for the city.
During the public auction, participating developers purchased a total of 204,815 certificates at a baseline cut-off rate of $205,000 COP per certificate. Six construction companies competed in the bidding process, with five emerging as winning certificate holders: Marval, Las Galias, Buen Vivir, Coandes, and Incol.
Five months after the auction closed, Marval became the first developer to redeem its certificates for a building permit. The firm applied 19,800 certificates registered under its name to obtain an official urbanization license granted by Urban Curatorship No. 1. This step marks the transition of the CDCD program from financial collection to physical urban development.
The city administration plans to unlock approximately 25 hectares of usable land across strategic sectors using this system. This land supply aims to facilitate the construction of 10,000 to 15,000 Social Interest Housing (VIS) units, helping address urban growth needs while maintaining organized municipal planning.
The Soho 26 Master Plan on Avenida Calle 26
The first urban renewal initiative taking shape under this certificate system is Soho 26 Distrito Urbano. Developed by Marval, the multi-use complex is located on a 4.8-hectare (48,300 square meters) land parcel on Avenida Calle 26 that previously belonged to the Empresa de Energía de Bogotá (GEB).
The master plan splits the land into four distinct city blocks designed for residential, commercial, office, dotational, and service usages. In total, the project features approximately 160,000 square meters dedicated to housing, 50,000 square meters for commercial space and services, 38,000 square meters for dotational facilities, and 11,000 square meters for new public roadways.
The residential section will house 2,000 apartments distributed across three dedicated residential towers named One, Icon, and Art. A separate building complex named Duo will bring together the commercial retail spaces and professional office areas, creating an integrated live-work environment. The development also sets aside one full hectare for public park areas.
Marval brings over 50 years of national construction experience to this endeavor, investing approximately $2.8 trillion COP into the project. According to César Augusto Gómez, General Manager of Marval Bogotá, Soho 26 represents a major strategic commitment to modern urban density in the capital. The official public launch is set for November 5, 2026.
Environmental Reinvestment and Protected Ecological Reserves
The regulatory foundation supporting the CDCD program is rooted in District Decree 564 of 2025, which authorized the city to emit construction rights certificates in advance and commercialize them through public auctions. This mechanism aims to solve two challenges simultaneously: generating funding for ecological conservation and unlocking prime land for city renewal.
Under this legal framework, all capital collected through CDCD auctions is strictly allocated to purchasing and restoring land of high ecological importance. The funds raised from developers are funneled into environmental protection projects across three key regions: the Eastern Hills (cerros orientales), the Bogotá River park basin, and the Thomas van der Hammen Reserve.
Municipal leadership highlighted the environmental advantages of the auction model. District Habitat Secretary Vanessa Velasco stated that the program shows how cities can expand housing availability in well-located areas without destroying natural ecosystems. By collecting development fees upfront, the city secures dedicated capital to protect its primary ecological structure.
Carlos Felipe Reyes, General Manager of RenoBo, emphasized that this framework allows Bogotá to fund its own conservation through urban growth. By redirecting private investment into public environmental land purchases, the local government establishes a sustainable model for urban planning and natural resource management.
Strategic Transit Connectivity and Urban Accessibility
Soho 26 sits within Bogotá's designated Area of Major Metropolitan Services on Avenida Calle 26, directly behind the building that houses the District Secretariat of Education. This central positioning provides future residents and workers with direct access to major transit lines and public services.
The parcel is located adjacent to the Salitre El Greco TransMilenio station and sits directly across the street from the Gran Estación shopping center. The site is situated near the historic city center, the Salitre Transportation Terminal, and major civic venues such as the Simón Bolívar Park and the Corferias convention center.
Logistically, the location offers rapid travel times across key city routes:
Air Transit: Situated approximately 15 minutes away from El Dorado International Airport.
Public Mass Transit: Immediate pedestrian access to the TransMilenio arterial bus rapid transit network.
Arterial Roadways: Positioned on Avenida Calle 26, facilitating vehicle travel between the eastern financial districts and western transport hubs.
By encouraging high-density infill development along existing mass transit corridors, the city reduces commuter reliance on long-distance road trips. This transit-oriented development approach helps optimize public infrastructure and supports efficient metropolitan mobility.
Balancing Rapid City Growth with Ecosystem Preservation
Evaluating the auction-backed development model highlights how market-based planning instruments can address real estate demand while funding civic infrastructure. Examining both benefits and operational factors offers a balanced perspective on this urban planning strategy.
Key Advantages:
Sustainable Environmental Funding: Directs private construction capital straight into land acquisition and restoration for the Thomas van der Hammen Reserve, Eastern Hills, and Bogotá River basin.
Infrastructure Optimization: Places high-density residential housing and commercial facilities along existing mass transit lines on Avenida Calle 26, limiting urban sprawl.
Targeted Housing Supply: Supports municipal goals to supply up to 25 hectares of usable land capable of hosting between 10,000 and 15,000 Social Interest Housing (VIS) units.
Key Considerations:
Resource Management: Adding 2,000 households and commercial spaces to a concentrated area requires ongoing municipal monitoring of local water, power, and utility networks.
Execution Oversight: City agencies must maintain strict transparency to ensure auction revenues are swiftly deployed to purchase and restore protected ecological lands.
What Does This Housing Model Mean for Local Consumers?
For citizens and prospective home buyers in Bogotá, the conversion of certificate auctions into real estate projects marks a new phase in urban living. Projects like Soho 26 provide integrated communities where residents can live, work, and access commercial services within walking distance of public transit.
Furthermore, the model demonstrates how urban expansion can co-exist with ecological protection. Because developer fees fund public land purchases in protected areas like the Eastern Hills and the Thomas van der Hammen Reserve, urban growth actively contributes to regional environmental conservation.
As RenoBo prepares for the second CDCD public auction in November 2026—with bidder registrations open until October 13—more construction firms are expected to follow Marval's lead. This expanding pipeline will continue to unlock urban land while building a sustainable financial model for Bogotá's environmental future.