A neighbor confronted with gentrification
Enrique Núñez, an 83 -year -old man, has spent the last 25 years of his life inhabiting a rental apartment in the Tarragona blog, located in one of the most dynamic areas of the Eixample. In the last two years, he has observed with concern how 35 of the floors of his building have become tourist apartments, creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.
An uncertain future with the shadow of tourism
Núñez fears that, once his rental agreement is fulfilled in July 2028, the property does not renew the contract, coinciding with the plans of the government of Jaume Collboni to eliminate the tourist flats in the city. This situation has left the neighbors with a sense of vulnerability, and Núñez does not resign him to accept it.
You see that they claim justice
The spokeswoman for the Eixample Housing Union, Rebeca Pérez, joins the Núñez struggle, demanding the renewal of all rental contracts in the Tarragona blog and the immediate revocation of the tourist licenses. This demand is based on the right to decent and stable housing, fighting the negative impact that tourism generates on the community.
The impact of tourism in everyday life
Currently, of the 120 tourist use licenses that the real estate company Gallardo had, only 35 remain in effect. These licenses have caused a radical change in the dynamics of the Tarragona blog, where the neighbors now coexist with tourists who enter and come out constantly. While Núñez and his wife pay 1,200 euros per month for their home, tourists can rent a neighboring apartment for between 350 and 750 euros per night.
Incessant works and discomfort
The works to transform flats into tourist apartments began in January 2023, without the neighbors being previously informed. Núñez is reminiscent of the seven months of noise and discomfort, a period that coincided with the election campaign for the municipal ones. His patience has been tested with constant incidents, including noisy parties and incivious behaviors by tourists.
A community that does not give up
Despite the difficulties, Núñez and his neighbors do not give up. Some have been able to escape the situation, but he wonders where he could go with his age. The current situation is unsustainable, and the union has begun talks with property to defend the rights of tenants.
A horizon with hope
The municipal authorities work to eliminate the licenses of tourist flats for 2028, but Pérez expresses their distrust of these promises. The neighbors, like Núñez, are preparing to continue to fight, in the hope that their collective intervention could make the difference.
Final reflections on the struggle for housing
The story of Enrique Núñez is an example of the struggle of neighbors in the face of a system that often prioritized tourist interests over resident rights. Their determination and solidarity of the union are a testament to how the community can join to defend what they consider fair. The future of its flats may be uncertain, but its willingness to fight for decent housing endures.
