The fresh climate, the forests and its abundant water made San José Pinula a coveted place for the development of urbanization projects, also favored by its proximity to the capital, 22 kilometers away.
San José Pinula is one of the municipalities that shows less growth of vertical housing, as well as Villa Canales. However, part of the transformation that this municipality has experienced have been the changes in land use. Among these, the reduction of its forest coverage and the construction of housing, in accordance with the 2018-2032 Municipal Development and Territorial Planning Plan.
In the last four years he has three authorized multifamily housing projects, according to the Guatemalan Construction Chamber (CGC). One of these is a complex of 10 6 -level towers, with 48 apartments each. On average the cost is between Q550 thousand and Q572 thousand, according to the number of rooms.
This change of the territory can be observed in municipal income for the authorization of construction licenses (of all kinds) that registered the amount of Q8.9 million in 2021; figure that increased to Q12.7 million in 2023 and closed with Q7.9 million in 2024.
It was also reflected in the Single Property Tax (IUSI) that shows a sustained increase of Q24.6 million in 2021 and that three years later reported Q37.4 million in the coffers of this municipality, according to the Portal of Local Governments of the Ministry of Public Finance.
In 2023, the “desired” housing demand in the eastern sector was 14.9%. In 2024, of a total of 35 projects in the department of Guatemala, San José Pinula had four projects (11.4%). The current demand on the East side is 11% in contrast to an offer of 31%, according to data from the study of supply and residential demand Expocasa, 2023 and 2024, Guatemalan Chamber of Construction (CGC).
Population growth
In San José Pinula, population growth shot especially in the 21st century, as the study of Víctor Jáuregui García, for his mastery in university teaching at Usac. Thus, in the census of the year 1921 8 thousand inhabitants were registered, then it had a slight population decline in the 1950s and in the 2002 census its population with more than 47 thousand people rises.
Currently, population projections estimate that there are already 90 thousand 835 inhabitants in this territory of 220 square kilometers, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).
San José Pinula’s POT analysis shows urban growth, mainly in the municipal seat, an expansion that has increased the vehicle park. It also points out the absence of municipal policies in urban development, which have an impact on low public investment and quality infrastructure for basic services such as environmental sanitation.
On the other hand, it is a municipality with several potential factors for development such as forest, water resource and the variety of microclimates, known for its agricultural vocation and cradle of Jersey cattle.
Mayor Johnny Ayala Toledo, elected by the Cabal Party, points out that the previous mayor left him an “inheritance” of 12 thousand houses, which he is solving. Take the opportunity to comment that his management in 2024 of 16 projects managed to deliver 14. This year he plans 28 improvement projects in his municipality. Although he offered to expand his answer, he retracted and did not respond calls or messages.
The municipality counted a total of 19,608 households, of which 15,096 have a pipe in the house; Other 1,936 have perforated well and 57 families supply from truck or barrel.