Finalizan obras de mejora en 17 bloques de Padre Anchieta en La Laguna.

The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, visited today the Padre Anchieta Urbanization to check the results of the actions carried out in 17 blocks within the framework of Phase II of this Urban Regeneration and Renovation Area (ARRU), comprehensive improvement works carried out through the Municipal Housing and Services Society (Muvisa) and representing a municipal investment of 1,425,249.09 euros.

The mayor was accompanied on the tour by the councilor for Territorial Planning and president of Muvisa, Adolfo Cordobés; the manager of the entity, Emilio Fariña, as well as technical personnel from the Municipal Society.

«In addition to contributing everything necessary to increase the provision of regional housing plans in the municipality, we have also applied to various rehabilitation programs and agreements with other administrations to promote improvement actions in existing urbanizations. These projects involve a significant investment of resources, as we not only provide millions of euros in municipal funds, but also take care of all administrative management and processing, tenders, project drafting, and management and supervision of the works,» explained the mayor.

In this regard, he emphasized that, «in La Laguna, we face the difficulty that we have many developments built in the 1960s and 1970s, totaling more than 3,500 homes, all privately owned today. Therefore, these rehabilitation plans become essential actions not only to improve the structural safety, habitability, and quality of life of the neighbors, as their results impact the perception of safety in the environments and reduce the stigmatization of the neighborhoods and their populations.»

For his part, Adolfo Cordobés recalled that «Muvisa will manage more than 14 million euros this year in housing rehabilitation and regeneration, nearly 48% more than the previous year, through various plans and agreements with different administrations.» Among the actions are various phases of the ARRU in El Cardonal, Padre Anchieta, San Luis Gonzaga, La Verdellada, and Princesa Yballa – La Florida, as well as the Scheduled Rehabilitation Residential Environment (ERRP) of El Cardonal and the unique Action of Las Chumberas.

«The designation of these intervention areas includes conducting a diagnosis of their demographic, social, economic, and environmental situation, and requires supramunicipal agreements. However, since these are private properties, the owners have the final say, and all actions are agreed upon through the communities of property owners. Therefore, citizen participation in these state rehabilitation programs is voluntary and an essential condition for project implementation,» assessed the councilor.

The works of this Phase II of the ARRU Padre Anchieta have recently been completed, and the signing of the Works Acceptance Certificate for the 17 buildings is being finalized, covering blocks 60 to 76 and consisting of partial repair and rehabilitation, with aesthetic renewal and environmental improvement.

Thus, structural elements in poor condition, especially ground floor pillars, have been repaired, and interventions have been made on the facades, addressing deficiencies and applying waterproof paint; roofs, with improved waterproofing, replacement of water tanks, access hatches to the roof, and covering of shafts, and inside the homes, where asbestos cement downpipes running through bathroom shafts have been replaced and access doors installed to facilitate maintenance.

Enhanced Security and Accessibility

In addition, a perimeter fence has been installed in the 13 blocks with arcades, thereby eliminating one of the security concerns, through a light, continuous, and permeable element that allows visibility into the interior and, at the same time, is decorative and enhances the space. Two entrance doors have been placed in each block. Also, actions have been taken in common areas, with the installation of handrails on stairs, painting of walls, and installation of an extendable ladder to facilitate access to the roof.

Regarding intervention in public spaces, the main objective has been to adapt existing pedestrian routes to accessibility regulations so that the 17 block entrances can be accessed via accessible pedestrian routes. Likewise, improvements have been made to the environment through pavement cleaning, graffiti removal, painting of the numerous walls bordering planters, ramps, and pedestrian walks, as well as the installation of trash cans and the demolition of disused elements.

Access points to the different blocks have also been adapted, as the installation of the new perimeter enclosure has necessitated their redesign. Existing stairs, ramps, and steps have been adapted or, where necessary, new solutions have been individually designed to comply with accessibility regulations in urban public spaces.

New Pedestrian Path

The works have included the creation of a pedestrian path, 3 meters wide, between the perimeter wall of the San Juan Bautista cemetery and blocks 65 to 73. This accessible itinerary aims to promote pedestrian traffic within the block and to facilitate the passage of emergency and maintenance vehicles.

This pedestrian path covers the surroundings of blocks 64 to 73 and number 83, from Luis Braille street to the access road to the San Juan Bautista cemetery. Likewise, ramps and stairs have been designed to connect the pedestrian path with the square of the San Juan Bautista parish and the cemetery, both declared Cultural Heritage Sites (BIC) with Monument category.

Other actions carried out include the construction of 8 new ramps and 5 new stairs, the modification of the layout of 6 existing stairs, the installation of handrails and regularization of crenellated walls, as well as the replacement of broken tiles on sidewalks and in the San Juan Bautista square, where a new protective railing has been installed on the garage wall.

Phase I in Progress

In addition to this Phase II, progress is well advanced in the execution of the first Phase of the ARRU Padre Anchieta, which will involve the rehabilitation of 28 more blocks, with a total cost of the works exceeding 2 million euros. The actions include facade rehabilitation, roof waterproofing, improvement of plumbing and sanitation installations, energy-saving measures, adaptation of facilities, conservation of structure, urban reorganization, and improvement of the nearest urban environment, both exterior pavements, urban furniture, and gardening, as well as interventions for accessibility improvement.

The Municipal Housing and Services Society (Muvisa) is the entity responsible for carrying out improvement actions in the Urban Regeneration and Renovation Areas. These interventions are carried out in urbanizations that were originally social housing built over 50 years ago and have been exclusively privately owned for decades.