The City Council of Barcelona is set to inspect the Centre de la Vila's parking facility for health and safety violations. This follows a request from ERC amid ongoing commercial decline in the area.
The City Council of Barcelona has initiated an urgent inspection of the parking garage at the Centre de la Vila, responding to concerns about health hazards and safety issues. The investigation comes as the area faces significant commercial decline, highlighted by a recent auction where no bids were made for the property owned by state enterprise Mercasa.
Jordi Valls, the Deputy Mayor for Economy, emphasized that it is unacceptable for property owners to neglect their responsibilities. He stated,
“There has been an extraordinarily important situation of neglect.”
The council aims to address serious issues such as leaks and structural deficiencies that have raised alarms among local residents.
The district of Sant Martí has already begun proceedings to require Mercasa to provide an updated certificate regarding the stability and health standards of level minus three in the parking structure, which has been particularly affected by water infiltration. Local councilor Jordi Coronas from ERC criticized Mercasa for what he described as “years of mismanagement”, which he claims have led to a loss of commercial activity in the area.
Coronas further pointed out that these ongoing problems could pose risks not only to users of the garage but also to nearby residents. He urged city officials to take action promptly:
“We ask that they act ex officio and open necessary proceedings to demand compliance from the owner.”
The council is also considering joining a lawsuit filed by local community associations against Mercasa due to negligence and unsanitary conditions. Valls indicated that discussions are underway regarding this potential collaboration.
This situation is compounded by a lack of interest in purchasing the Centre de la Vila during its recent auction, where no offers were made at the minimum asking price of €18 million. Valls reiterated that any potential acquisition by the city must be based on a fair valuation:
“The city should not pay above what it is worth.”
The ongoing litigation between Mercasa and those managing the parking facility has hindered necessary repairs, leaving many questioning how long these unsafe conditions will persist. As inspections begin, residents are encouraged to report any immediate concerns regarding safety or health issues directly to city officials.
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