The Villa government (CC) the use of the cafeteria of the emblematic Humboldt viewpoint is reconsidered and at this time the alternative is taking shape that the entire building (cafeteria, old store and restaurant) be reserved for public use as the headquarters of the future interpretation center of the nearby Well of Cultural Interest (BIC), with the category of archaeological zone, of the Mencey Bencomo caves, with a space also reserved for the renowned German scientist and naturalist after whom it is named. Mayor, Francisco Linares (CC)admits to EL DÍA that «the possibility of converting the entire viewpoint in the future Interpretation Center and Museum of the Bencomo Cavesin this way we would make a total and comprehensive remunicipalization of the area and we would convert the spaces and dwellings of the viewpoint into a space and meeting point related to Bencomo and also to Humboldt».
According to Linares, give up a new administrative concession of the cafeteria “It would be an interesting way of reconciling the educational, cultural and tourist use of the area with that of a viewpoint, which would continue to be available to the public in a completely free and gratuitous».
That future interpretation center, for which the Town Hall hopes to have the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, “it would become”, according to Linares, “a very interesting meeting place and tourist projection for La Orotava and in general for everything the north of Tenerife».
A key step for this project to become a reality is to finalize the purchase of the private land where they are located. the Bencomo Caves, on the slope just behind the viewpoint. “We have made considerable progress in recent months, we have already identified the co-owners of the plots where the caves are located, since there is a double property that affects the entire area. Once identified, with writing in hand, throughout these next few weeks the Town Hall will make an offer to purchase these plots from the owners and if we reach an economic agreement, these lands will become part of the municipal heritage. Is about a space of about 32,000 square meters which since 1986 has the category of BIC.
The next step after the purchase will be the approval of a plenary agreement for “the transfer of said plots to the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Government of the Canary Islandssince they will be in charge of financing the rehabilitation project of the caves and the start-up of the interpretation center».
Despite the accumulated delays, the village mayor shows his confidence that “throughout this year 2022, we will advance in this entire process and that in 2023 we can already start with the rehabilitation work in the area”. For Linares, it is “a very interesting project, identity and very full of Canarian and respect for our Guanche ancestors.”
In October 2020, Humboldt’s lookout It was reopened to the public after more than six years of closure and countless problems caused by the previous administrative concession. At that time, the municipal intention was to immediately convene a new competition, but a year and four months later, the Villero Government is once again rethinking the future of the Humboldt viewpoint.
The old San Francisco hospital
The mayor of La Orotava, Francisco Linares (CC), recalls that the old premises of the Hospital de la Santísima Trinidad, located in the old convent of San Francisco, “are already being used partially as a public funeral home, and it also has spaces ceded to some local collective. However, a good part of this large and old property remains, which for now does not have any defined use. In a visit that we made to these dependencies, all the political formations agreed to convene a contest of ideas for their future uses that could be given to these dependencies », he underlines. However, “the pandemic situation that we are experiencing and the economic crisis that it has brought with it has led us to deal with other more urgent and priority issues.” Regarding the future of this property, Linares contributes what he defines as “a personal idea, just an opinion”, which is to convert it into “an urban parador”.
The new nursing home in La Boruga
Linares recalls that “several years ago the Villero City Council in a plenary session and unanimously by all the political groups ceded to the Cabildo de Tenerife a 27,000 square meter plot of land in the La Boruga urbanization to build there the new social health center or geriatric residence that would replace to the old Hospital of the Holy Trinity». This work must be “completely executed and financed by the Island Council, since it will involve an investment of 9 million euros. Several technical, administrative and urban issues have had to be overcome and now we are waiting for the Cabildo to bid. And I trust that it will materialize in 2022 ».
La Caldera adventure park
The construction project of the adventure park in La Caldera “has been around for a decade and it is true that it has not come to fruition, so I would say that it is quite stuck and that it has made very little progress over the last few years,” he explains. The economic crisis and the lack of private investment have paralyzed the entire process and there has been no substantial progress. “We will see what happens throughout 2022, the current mandate is ending and I doubt that important and substantial progress will be seen. Time will tell, since a strong private investment is needed, which for now has not yet appeared. Frankly, I’m not very optimistic,” acknowledges Linares.
