The Department of Urban Planning in La Laguna has initiated an independent study concerning the Casa del Cura de Tejina, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict between various institutions regarding the significance of this 20th-century building. The structure has been causing severe damage to the church of San Bartolomé and preventing the historical demands of residents to expand the square.
Adolfo Cordobés, the Councillor for Land Use Planning and Cultural Heritage in La Laguna, states that the project has undergone an extensive administrative process due to alleged cultural importance attached to the parish house, which has not been proven. Residents, represented by the Las Tres Calles Association and the Tejina Citizen Platform, have long been advocating for the demolition of the building and the reclaiming of this public space.
Cordobés further highlights that, “given the discrepancies between the information available to us and the assessments provided by the Tenerife Island Council, as well as the public interest in this intervention, we deemed it necessary to conduct a comprehensive technical analysis of the construction history and alleged significance of this property.”
Due to the level of expertise required for this report, the Management has begun the process of appointing architect Alejandro Beautell García and historian Miguel Machado Bonde to carry out the study. The task is expected to take four months once initiated.
The Casa del Cura de Tejina falls within the protected area of the BIC of the 16th-century church. Hence, the Management views this step as “crucial not only to clarify doubts raised by the Cabildo de Tenerife about this building, but also to facilitate the removal of the property from the municipal heritage assets catalogue, as demanded by the island institution,” Cordobés adds.
The councillor emphasises that this report is essential for the minor modification process required to declassify the Casa del Cura in the current General Development Plan. It will also pave the way for expanding the free space in the square and correcting the misclassification of the church of San Bartolomé de Tejina as a public facility.
It is important to note that even after declassification, being situated in the BIC area means that any interventions will necessitate approval from the Council, following a favourable opinion from the Island Heritage Commission.
Disagreements regarding the cultural significance of the House
A report from the Cabildo’s Historical Heritage technical unit acknowledges the heritage values present in the lower floor of the house. It suggests that the elements on the upper floors and the additional structure are discordant and should be removed to enhance the original appearance of the property, thereby advocating for the preservation of the first floor.
However, all the evidence collected by the municipality, in collaboration with historians and residents, indicates that the building was constructed on two levels in 1929, deviating from the original 1928 project (which is also preserved). Despite the upper floor not being used until later, the entire structure was built as intended, as evident in numerous images, debunking the notion of it being solely a ground-floor house.
The most recent resolution from the Island Directorate of Territorial Planning and Historical Heritage of the Cabildo de Tenerife stipulates that the City Council must initiate a prior file to modify the municipal Catalogue for the mandatory authorisation concerning the Historical Heritage, if the property is found to be unsuitable. Additionally, all interventions are subject to the approval of the Island Council due to its proximity to the Asset of Cultural Interest in question.
