The Urban Planning Department of La Laguna has commissioned an independent study on Casa del Cura de Tejina, in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict between various institutions regarding the significance of this 20th century building. This structure has been causing severe damage to the church of San Bartolomé and has been a hindrance to the historical demands of residents to expand the square. The Councillor for Land Use Planning and Cultural Heritage of La Laguna, Adolfo Cordobés, explained that there have been longstanding disagreements over the cultural value of the parish house, leading residents to call for its demolition and the restoration of the public space.
Cordobés highlighted the need for a comprehensive technical analysis of the construction history and the supposed values of the property, due to the discrepancies between available information and Council assessments. The Management has initiated the process of commissioning this analysis to a team comprising architect Alejandro Beautell and historian Miguel Machado, with a deadline of four months. The Casa del Cura de Tejina is located in a protected area of the BIC of the 16th-century church, leading the Management to view this study as a crucial step in clarifying doubts and potentially removing the property from the municipal heritage catalogue.
This report is essential for the minor modification procedure required to declassify Casa del Cura in the current PGO. Furthermore, it would facilitate the expansion of free space in the square and rectify the misclassification of the church of San Bartolomé de Tejina as a public facility. Even after decataloguing, any interventions in the BIC area will necessitate authorization from the Council, following a favourable opinion from the Island Heritage Commission.
According to a report from the Cabildo’s Historical Heritage technical unit regarding the demolition proposal, the ground-floor house holds heritage value due to its facades and carpentry, while the upper levels and additional structures are considered discordant elements that should be removed to enhance the property’s original image. However, evidence collected by the municipality, historians, and residents shows that the building was constructed on two levels in 1929, deviating from the original 1928 project. Despite the upper floor remaining unused for several decades, it was built entirely as evidenced in numerous images, contradicting claims that it was originally a single-level house.
The latest resolution from the island’s Department of Territorial Planning and Historical Heritage of the Cabildo stipulates that, for the demolition project to proceed, the town hall must revise the municipal catalogue and seek approval from the Cabildo. This is due to the property’s proximity to the BIC, requiring careful consideration and approvals for any alterations.
