Colau wants public apartments and facilities at the Montjuïc Fairgrounds

Barcelona announced a “first proposal” this Tuesday to “reconsider”. Montjuïc Fairgrounds and adapt its uses to the “current needs” of the surrounding neighborhoods and the “city as a whole”. This was stated by the councilor for urban planning, Janet Sanz, those of Sants-Montjuïc, Mark Serraand the economy, Jaume Collboniwhich points out that it is about the “updating” of a historical space built in 1929 for the Universal Exhibition, which has had to date almost exclusively fair use and that “it is necessary to redefine”. Almost a century later, the current municipal government insists on the idea that the site “a urban fair “, “which preserves its historical essence and at the same time opens up to its immediate surroundings and to a new social and economic model “.

What was unveiled this Tuesday is the fruit of a participatory process in recent weeks with neighbors, surrounding entities and Fira de Barcelona. While November and December celebrated seven sessions works with the aim of “making a joint diagnosis of the current situation of space”, putting the needs of the environment on the table and Justify yourself to these first suggestions for the future, which include housing and facilities where there are now only pavilions (many of them are notorious underutilized). A document that will be soon agreement between institutions -they ensure- and that it will serve “as a basis” for a Amendment of the General Metropolitan Plan (MPGM) what the council plans to have approved before the end of the year; taking into account that the 100% of these countries -to this day for private use- is from municipal property.

Process criticized

The quoted participatory process -which the popular movement La Fira or la Vida refused to join, judging it as a farce and taking into account that “nothing was decided, everything was already decided” – placed on the table four important demands. On the one hand -says Sanz- must house the fairgrounds new uses to respond to the needs of the neighborhoods to have access more public housingfacilities and green areas, “maintain a fair activity better integrated into the urban structure “.

Sanz also emphasizes the need toimproves the urban continuity of the streets“and” open “the fence to connect the neighborhoods of Poble Sec and the Font de la Guatlla and to “bring the mountain closer to the city”. Furthermore, according to the mayor, “a more sustainable and less polluting mobility and better environmental conditions throughout the space, with greater prominence of green ”, he concludes, emphasizing that the historic buildings and pavilions“ must be preserved and valued ”.

First pavilion in 2023

During this month of January, Colau se span worked on these conclusions “jointly” with Fira de Barcelona and did the first exercise to draw them on the map announced this Tuesday. An initial approach that, according to the council, “fits” with the proposed uses to define the future of the area and foresees its transformation until 2029, centenary year. “In 2023 the pavilion of Italy It can already be managed by the city council “, they argued.

To find the desired balance between an urban fair and the necessary new nearby uses, the first drawings project to make the spaces “more flexible, efficient, compact and modern”, freeing up half the surface to accommodate the proposed civil uses. to be used. Among them, the public housing it would cover 13,350 square meters; the equipment, 22,000 square meters, and green areas and roads, 23 225 meters. and there would be 4 350 meters “for spaces linked to the Fira de Barcelona for to promote other economic activities“, the deputy mayor pointed out Jaume Collboni.

The new Fira will – underline the municipal officials – an environment “more integrated into the urban plot and aimed at events of a small or medium dimension that go to a emblematic space in the heart of the city“. The casing – if the plans go ahead – will have exhibition spaces and”areas dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge transfer in sectors related to the main halls of the institution “. In this way, the proposal will allow” not only the normal fair activity to be maintained, but also strengthen it“, insisted Collboni.

public housing

According to Sanz, almost 14,000 square meters of the scope would be public housing, which some can accommodate 500 new affordable rental apartmentsand would also allow public business premises win (The initial proposal of the neighborhood platform La Fira or La Vida was to build 10,000 affordable homes there). The mayor also insisted on the opportunity to “make the most of the opportunity to generate city and the public affordable housing stock in an area where there are very few free lots in which to build. “” It’s about stop talking about casing for the space will be an open, passable space. Must to generate new dynamics“, he adds. The streets of Florida in Tamarit with Carrer de Gimbernat-Carrer del Nord and Carrer de Sant Fructuós. This axis will connect the fairgrounds through the current Metallurgy Pavilion and the Universe square.

Expansion of the MNAC

Related news

With regard to the facilities, for the booking of 22,000 square meters planned there is six facilities that had consensus among the neighborhood that participated in the process. This is about the new CAPa care facility for the elderly and for people with functional diversity, a library, a neighborhood space, a sports facility and the promised expansion of the MNAC. The library and the neighborhood will be in the purple house, the Victoria Eugenie Pavilion could accommodate the expansion of the MNAC and the flag of italy and the sports equipment and the rest of the equipment “will be specified later”.

The Councilor for Sants-Montjuïc and Participation, Marc Serrarated it 200 locals took part in the intense process, “with a wide representation of neighborhood, cultural and sports entities and institutions“.” Most of their demands were collected “, the mayor was proud.” With the restoration of almost the 50% of the land we will be able to reverse a historical debt of neighborhood amenities, such as the new CAP of Poble Sec“, he claimed.