Barcelona Residents Demand Completion of 700+ Unfinished Homes Around Glòries
Barcelona, March 12 – Community associations surrounding the Glòries area are urgently calling on the Barcelona City Council to honor a commitment made 19 years ago regarding the extensive redevelopment of this emerging urban core. “Everything is moving too slowly,” state the neighborhood groups from Clot-Camp de l’Arpa, Sagrada Família, Poblenou, and Fort Pienc. In an open assembly for residents of the surrounding neighborhoods yesterday, they urged that the reform gain momentum, not be limited to the park, and accelerate the pending constructions of social housing and facilities.
Unfulfilled Promises and Housing Shortages
“The city council often gives the impression that almost everything is done because we have part of the park, and concludes that it doesn’t need to invest much more, but that’s not true,” refutes Miquel Catasús of the Clot-Camp de l’Arpa Neighborhood Association. Specifically, the neighborhood movement points out that 762 homes in various developments are yet to be built. These are divided between market-rate and social housing; the associations insist that as many as possible be classified as official protection and offered for rent. “On municipal properties, between 300 and 400 more flats could be built,” estimates Catasús.
“It could be up to 700 general regime social housing units for rent; the fight is for them to be as many as possible,” states Gabriel Mercadal, president of the Sagrada Família Neighborhood Association. Mercadal emphasizes that 562 flats are yet to be built in the block where Castillejos, Consell de Cent, Cartagena, and Diagonal streets converge. Additionally, 112 homes are still to be constructed at 771 Gran Via, and another 88 homes are to be distributed between 5-9 Bolívia and 119 Pamplona. “Demolitions have been carried out, constructions have begun, and some things are being done, but progress is very slow,” Mercadal laments.
Stalled Public Facilities
Regarding facilities, neighborhood associations report that only five of the 16 facilities they claim were committed to in 2007 have been completed. They add that there is an imbalance between investment in city-wide facilities (estimated at 150 million euros) and neighborhood facilities (with about 25 million allocated for this purpose).
The neighborhood fabric assesses that, although the project is advanced, slowness continues to mark the construction of the facility at the old Fàbrica del Sucre, on Cartagena Street. A youth space, a multipurpose auditorium, and a space for the Castellers de la Sagrada Família are to be installed there. In turn, they warn that the construction of the Gaia school building – in modules, for now – is progressing “very slowly.” It is to be built where the Umbrella Factory once stood. “They said that the works should start in 2026 and that the school would be open for the 2027-2028 academic year; now they tell us 2028-2029,” commented Catasús, skeptical that the dates will be met.
Among the tasks where it observes the most delay, the neighborhood movement warns that the construction of a nursing home on Independència Street, the auditorium linked to the Farinera del Clot, and the sports center projected in southern Meridiana, between Tànger and Pamplona streets, remain blocked. In turn, they add that the works for the Bolívia Street health center are yet to begin, and the Sòcol and Ona buildings, a complex that is to combine facilities and public housing, remain undefined.
Park Progress and Future Outlook
On the other hand, the associations have highlighted the large influx to the central strip of Glòries Park and the good role it is playing, which they have judged “necessary.” In any case, they have stated that a third of the park’s surface still needs to be urbanized. “The commitment for Glòries was to be made in 10 years; next year it will be 20 years since it was signed, but at this rate, and going well, we will reach 30 years, and with a lack of will, we will go to 40… This cannot be,” Catasús concludes.
Source: elperiodico.com.cat
