Expectations of Renewal in a Deteriorating Environment
The residents of Trinitat Vella live with the anxiety of an imminent rehabilitation of their homes which, unfortunately, seems increasingly distant. In 2019, the Barcelona City Council presented an urban regeneration plan that promised to revitalize up to 368 apartments and 40 premises, but the start of the work planned for 2023 has been postponed, leaving the conditions of the properties in a worrying state.
Critical Conditions of Habitability
Currently, only a small fraction of the original buildings, built between the 1950s and 1970s, have shown interest in rehabilitation. The continued deterioration of the apartments is making coexistence a real challenge, with the safety, accessibility and energy efficiency of the homes at risk.
Critical Situations and Support Strategies
Many of the properties awaiting renovation have been reinforced with struts to deal with structural damage. Glòria Arias, a resident of one of these apartments, shares her experience of living with a strut in her room since 2018, after detecting a leak that damaged a beam. ‘I haven’t been able to sleep peacefully for months,’ she says with frustration.
Other neighbors, like Niadelina Matos, have observed how conditions have deteriorated even further after inspections revealed cracks and other structural problems, without the Administration having followed up again.
Dissatisfaction with the Authorities
The residents express their disappointment regarding the lack of support from the City Council, which had initially promised to accompany them throughout the rehabilitation process. Roberto Rodríguez, spokesman for the affected people, points out that since the summer, the situation has changed drastically, leaving the communities to their own devices. ‘We have to look for life alone at a critical moment,’ he laments.
Urgency in Grant Applications
In addition, Rodríguez highlights that it is urgent that the works be completed before June 2026 to be able to access the subsidies that will help them cover the rehabilitation costs.
City Council’s Commitment to Accelerate the Works
On the other hand, the City Council states that neither the budget nor the conditions of the program have been reduced. They assure that an agreement has been formalized with builders to act as rehabilitation agents with the aim of speeding up the processes. The total budget for these actions amounts to 16.3 million euros, distributed among six regeneration areas.
Looking to the Future
With this promise of acceleration, the residents hope that the works will start soon, as their current situation is not sustainable. The rehabilitation of their homes is not only a matter of structural improvement, but also of dignity and quality of life for all residents.