Yesterday, the Los Realejos City Council took a decisive step towards the preservation of local heritage by initiating a significant project: the renovation of the old San Agustín school. After being closed for three decades and experiencing considerable deterioration, the restoration works are set to be put out for tender this week at a cost of 1.6 million Euros, with expectations to commence and complete the project within this year.
This announcement was made by the Mayor, Adolfo González, and the President of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, following a meeting held at the Town Hall to address various issues concerning the municipality. The meeting was also attended by the First Vice President of the island institution, Lope Afonso, the Deputy Mayor, Noelia González, and the Councillor for Historical Heritage, Isabel Socorro.
Undoubtedly, the future of this property has been a major focal point, given its status as an architectural landmark on La Alhóndiga Street, situated in the area recognised as a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) in the heart of San Agustín, which served as an educational establishment for many generations of Los Realejos residents as well as those from other towns in the Valley.
The governing party (PP) has been steadfast in its commitment since the previous administration to assign a cultural and educational purpose to the building. Specifically, it is earmarked to become a museum of education and music, as well as serving as the headquarters for the Los Realejos Philharmonic Musical Society, the oldest band in Tenerife.
“This space held immense significance, particularly during the latter half of the previous century in the realm of education,” emphasised Rosa Dávila. She further added that the restoration of the building “marks a milestone that we, alongside the City Council, had set out to achieve and represents a substantial investment, showcasing the financial support that the City Council must extend to local entities, as they often find it challenging to undertake large-scale projects without adequate funding.”
The project envisions the comprehensive restoration and repurposing of the heritage building towards La Alhóndiga and La Virgen streets. The building, shaped like an ‘L’ across two floors (with a lift in one of the sections), features hipped roofs with tiles that were previously renovated in an earlier phase, along with a central patio acting as the focal point of the complex.
Furthermore, there are plans to demolish the structure at the rear of the plot, which lacks heritage value due to its incompatible geometry, surface area, and typology with the intended new use. Additionally, its layout obstructs the utilisation of a significant portion of the available space within the project scope.
Dávila acknowledged that it had been a day of “intensive work”, during which other critical matters relevant to Los Realejos were deliberated upon, such as access to TF-5. In this context, the Cabildo pledged to explore all possible avenues to alleviate traffic congestion issues, which are also prevalent in other northern municipalities.
In a similar vein, Lope Afonso highlighted the “remarkable dynamism” that the municipality has exhibited in recent years in terms of economic activity. Consequently, “it is only logical and responsible for the Cabildo to facilitate the growth of activities so that the benefits can be reaped across the entire Island.” This involves continued support for commercial zones, the forthcoming municipal swimming pool, the new business incubator, as well as initiatives related to the preservation of the rural landscape and coastline.
A fresh strategy to restore access to the El Patronato road
The Mayor confirmed plans to devise a new strategy to reinstate access to the TF-5 from the El Patronato road, prioritising safety measures. “We will be reapplying for specific reports and exploring all avenues to rectify this situation because we believe it is feasible,” he stated. Addressing the need for new entry points for the municipality due to its significant expansion in recent years was among the topics discussed. Currently, efforts are concentrated on a specific project at the Los Barros roundabout.
