La Laguna inicia mejoras integrales en Princesa Yballa y La Florida
The Municipal Housing and Services Society (Muvisa) of La Laguna organized two meetings yesterday with the neighbors of the 11 housing blocks included in phase 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Renewal Area (ARRU) Princesa Yballa – La Florida. The purpose of the meeting was to inform residents about the start of the works, all the details of these comprehensive improvement actions, and the technical solutions that have been reached so that residents do not have to leave their homes during the necessary works to install elevators in the buildings.
The president, the CEO, and the manager of Muvisa, Adolfo Cordobés, Domingo Galván, and Emilio Fariña, respectively, participated in these meetings, which took place at the Citizens’ Center of Princesa Yballa. Also present were technical responsibles of the Municipal Society, project drafting teams, the works’ technical direction, and the awarded company that will carry out the works, representing a total investment of 1,581,521.56 euros.
This phase, carried out according to agreements with the respective community of neighbors, is funded through an agreement between various public administrations and the homeowners, as all properties have been privately owned for years. The Spanish Government contributes 42.49%; the Government of the Canary Islands, 30%; the Island Council, 12.51%; and the City Council, 10% of the total, so individuals only cover 5% of the total cost of the actions.
The works will result in a comprehensive improvement in the accessibility and habitability of a hundred homes, involving waterproofing of roofs, facade rehabilitation, energy capacity enhancement, environment improvements, compliance with common facilities regulations, as well as connections to homes for electrical, plumbing, sanitation, and telecommunications supplies. Notably, elevators will be installed in these residential areas that previously lacked them, and in 8 of these blocks, stairwell shafts will be completely renovated.
This last action would have affected access for more than 50 households during the works. Given that many elderly people and families with children reside in the area, Muvisa’s technical team, after viability checks with the project drafters and the construction company, proposed a solution yesterday that will allow residents to remain in their homes with minimal disruption, an initiative that has been very well received by those attending the meetings.
Secure Access
Therefore, external metal staircases will be installed in the affected blocks, featuring the highest safety measures for users, along with a top cover, access door with lock and intercom at the base, and new temporary accesses to each floor. These structures will be tailored to each building’s needs and designed not to affect access to ground floor commercial premises.
Similarly, as in previous works carried out by Muvisa in other buildings in the development and within the framework of phases I and II of this ARRU, the elevators will run along the exterior facades, improving overall accessibility and pedestrian spaces.
The blocks included in this Phase III are numbers 6, 12, 19, from 22 to 25, and from 28 to 30, totaling 10 in Princesa Yballa, in addition to block 8 in La Florida. The company responsible for the works has already started the necessary installations, such as temporary cabins, construction supplies, etc., to start the intervention in the 4 blocks where temporary staircases are not needed.
The works are expected to last approximately 9 months, during which all administrative and technical procedures will be carried out to modify the project for the other 8 blocks and replace relocations with these secure temporary structures, so that the works can start as soon as possible and with all guarantees for the residents.
This Phase III includes a third lot for one more block in Princesa Yballa, whose tender has been unsuccessful. Muvisa is already working to expedite the processes and award the works as soon as possible.
5 ARRU in progress
ARRU, as state rehabilitation aid programs, are aimed at providing support and addressing the needs of developments that, in these cases, have the particularity of having been built over 50 years ago and their homes are now entirely privately owned, not owned by the public administration.
La Laguna currently has 5 ARRU related to the developments of La Verdellada, Princesa Yballa – La Florida, Padre Anchieta, San Luis Gonzaga, and El Cardonal, in addition to the singular action of replacement and redevelopment of Las Chumberas, and the Programmed Rehabilitation Residential Environment (ERRP) of El Cardonal, as well as other municipal lines of individual aid for housing adaptation.
The ARRU and other similar programs represent an investment of over 55 million in the municipality. The actions carried out and planned affect over 3,500 homes in the aforementioned developments.
These interventions are carried out within programs co-financed by the State, the Government of the Canary Islands, the Island Council, the City Council of La Laguna, and the residents who join these development improvement aids. The designation of these intervention areas is based on a diagnosis of their demographic, social, economic, and environmental situation, requiring supramunicipal agreements.
