Numerous supporters argued to have the town preserved because of its significance to Chilean history and its unusual site in the Andes. Demolition was halted at the end of the 1980s. In 1998 the Chilean Government declared Sewell a National Monument. In 1999 Chile's College of Architects declared Sewell to be one of the country's 10 most important urban works. Nine books have been written about life at Sewell. In 2006 UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site, based on Chile's nomination and assessment of its significance.