Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez have their eyes on a penthouse apartment in a building near a Puerto Rican landmark that has sparked huge local protests.
Sources say the Latino power couple have viewed a model unit at the controversial Paseo Caribe, a high-rise luxury complex under construction next to the historic San Geronimo fort in San Juan.
The $300 million residential, shopping and entertainment complex has sparked legal battles, protests and physical fights between the developers and residents who are concerned about overbuilding on the shoreline, the sale of public land to a private company, and preservation of the 17th-century fort.
Anthony’s rep, who said she had no idea whether he and J.Lo will buy there, but told us the couple do have “big plans” for Puerto Rico that they’ll unveil in 2011.
“They are looking into creating new projects in San Juan and Latin America in development, entertainment and film,” she said.
But locals are mystified as to why Anthony and “American Idol” judge Lopez would choose to launch their “big plans” from so controversial a piece of property.
A source familiar with Paseo Caribe said, “It is still early days. There is no certainty they’ll buy because of the controversy.”
Anthony irritated Puerto Ricans in September when he canceled one of his sold-out concerts an hour before the performance.
“The first show was amazing, and Jennifer came out,” a source said. “But the next day’s concert was a disaster when he canceled an hour before start time, sending fans who had driven up to four hours to see the show back home.”
Anthony’s rep told us, “He held out for as long as possible because he was planning to perform that night, but his doctor recommended he rest his vocal cords for 48 hours. He rescheduled for two days later.”
A rep for J.Lo declined to comment.