The Residents’ Association of Las Tres Calles de Tejina convened an open meeting last Friday to discuss “one of the long-standing demands of our community: the demolition of the priest’s residence, which is connected to the parish church.” The aim is “to configure the square as we have been advocating for decades,” as outlined in their statement. The church is classified as BIC, and the Bishopric is presently undertaking restoration work on it, with funding sourced from various governmental and ecclesiastical bodies in differing proportions.
Concerning the demolition of the adjoining parish residence, the neighbourhood association noted that “decisions are being made which, as the restoration of the church progresses, are aimed at its rehabilitation and contradict the prevailing sentiment of our community.” They added, “In fact, a few days ago a wall that had been exposed for 95 years was whitewashed or covered up, which coincides with the age of the house, nothing more.” Furthermore, they asserted that this property “lacks heritage value, as evidenced by investigations conducted, among others, by researcher Miguel López,” “which dismantle the arguments presented by the Council’s Heritage Unit.”
They also contended that “the parish church was designed as a standalone structure” and that the priest’s residence “has been uninhabited for years, with the parish having supported its demolition previously.”
Given these points, the residents are puzzled as to “why public funds are being allocated to restore the priest’s residence. Firstly, because the majority opinion in Tejina is being overlooked. Secondly, because we have not been afforded the opportunity to voice our views adequately, and thirdly, as there are technical and historical reasons justifying its demolition.” Consequently, they are calling for “the cessation of all actions that favour the enhancement of this historical misrepresentation, along with its removal from the heritage register,” and they have announced “future mobilisations.”
COUNCIL
La Laguna Town Hall, through the Urban Planning Department, announced last August that it would commission an independent study on the construction history and purported values of this priest’s residence, aimed at clarifying all concerns raised by the Council, as well as ensuring the withdrawal of the property from the municipal heritage catalogue, given that this structure is part of the BIC of the church.
In this manner, the goal is to address the residents’ request to remove this structure connected to the church, allowing for an extension to the square, which is also causing structural damage to the church building.
