The workers of the public company Casa47 began this week to remove the rubble and clean up the damage from the apartment block located on Ausiàs March street in Alcoletge. The intervention occurs two years after the looting that the property suffered in 2022 and after the recent detection of vandal-proof doors forced by the neighbors.
The mayor Josep Maria Gras and agents of the Mossos d'Esquadra appeared at the location immediately after residents alerted to the opening of the armored access points. The authorities wanted to verify the identity of those manipulating the security structures of the abandoned building.
Cleaning marks the start of recovery
The sanitation tasks have generated expectation among the neighborhood community, which has been denouncing the state of abandonment of the property for some time. The mayor confirmed that the workers were acting under contract with the real estate management entity.
"When we arrived we saw that it was a brigade of workers hired by Casa47, and that they were starting to clean up the damage" - Josep Maria Gras, mayor of Alcoletge
This block houses sixty apartments that remained empty since 2019 when the social rental contracts of their previous tenants ended. The property then passed to Sareb, the bad bank responsible for managing toxic real estate assets.
Josep Maria Gras pointed out that this cleaning could represent the first firm step towards the integral rehabilitation of the building. However, he admitted that the city council has not received any official written notification from Casa47 regarding the scope or duration of the works.
Seasonal workers occupy boarded-up spaces
In parallel with the cleaning efforts, the city council registers continuous complaints about noises and bangs coming from inside. Some individuals are trying to access the apartments that remain boarded up to prevent new illegal occupations.
The mayor identified these new occupants as temporary workers linked to the seasonal agricultural campaign. Their presence responds to the urgent need for accommodation during the harvesting months.
"they are seasonal workers who are looking for a place to live while they look for work in the fruit harvest" - Josep Maria Gras, mayor of Alcoletge
Gras indicated that this situation will be temporary and will be limited to the good weather season. The property lacks the basic habitability conditions to withstand winter or be used as a permanent residence all year round.
The Sareb recently notified the Alcoletge town hall of a free transfer offer that includes a single-family home and two plots of land located in the urban center. The state body thus seeks to compensate or facilitate the management of municipal land.
However, the proposal presents significant technical and economic drawbacks for local coffers. The housing ceded is in a state of threat of ruin and requires immediate intervention.
The two plots included in the offer carry urbanistic encumbrances valued at approximately 300,000 euros in associated costs. The council will have to assume this amount if it decides to carry out any future development project on these lands.
Josep Maria Gras confirmed his preliminary agreement with the offer made by Sareb. The mayor now awaits the official response from the entity to finalize the details of the transfer and define the schedule of actions.