Santa Cruz de Tenerife aims to evolve into an “intelligent and sustainable” city, addressing past mistakes while tackling present and future challenges through an inclusive and innovative approach. This new urban model will rely heavily on public participation and collaboration between the public and private sectors to define the strategies aimed at creating a “more competitive and productive” capital.
This was revealed yesterday by Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez (CC) during the unveiling of the City project, an initiative that, alongside the Metrópoli and Moeve foundations, will outline the necessary actions within a ten-month timeframe, paving the way for “establishing a new urban model that seeks to enhance our urban environment and address various current issues.”
Bermúdez noted that “the project involves these two foundations, which ensure high standards in execution, to facilitate the transformation of Santa Cruz. This process will be shaped through city forums that will gather insights from social and cultural groups, in conjunction with contributions from relevant entities and institutions such as the Government of the Canary Islands, the Spanish Government, the Cabildo, the Port Authority, and the City Council of La Laguna, which is a companion municipality that we must collaborate with more closely,” stated the mayor. These concepts will culminate in a comprehensive document for planning a modernised city.
The councillor asserted that “Santa Cruz is the product of 536 years of accomplishments and mistakes, including the commitment to the Los Llanos dock, an area where the capital missed a significant opportunity for urban growth due to a decision that worked against both the citizens and the City Council, depriving a space that, over time, has proven to offer no competitive advantage for the port.”
Additionally, Carlos Tarife (PP), the Councillor for Strategic Planning, characterised the City project as “ambitious because it aims to generate significant ideas that will shape the city’s future over the next 15 to 20 years. The goal is to incorporate successful urban transformation models from national and international examples and tailor them to our city. Therefore, the research conducted by Metrópoli will assist us in shaping a better Santa Cruz.” The anticipation is that the document will bring enhancements in road traffic and mobility, as well as access to housing. There is also a focus on competitiveness to attract more businesses and create employment, consistently integrating nature into the environment and linking the port with the city.
During the initial phase, Metrópoli will conduct a thorough analysis of the territory, encompassing elements such as active plans and projects, urban design, environmental systems, and the social and economic structure. This investigation will result in an initial technical assessment, which will be validated during the first participatory forum, anticipated to occur next February. In the subsequent phase, following the conceptual design of strategic project hypotheses, these will be evaluated in a second city forum before the final document is prepared, incorporating the conclusions of the project.
Alfonso Vegara, the president of Metrópoli, underscored that “cities are the driving forces of the global economy, and for this reason, the foundation has supported model transformations in over 50 cities worldwide, including Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga, and, most recently, Madrid.” He emphasised that “Santa Cruz possesses an urban fabric that can be adapted to attract additional international investment.”
Meanwhile, Teresa Mañueco, the director of the Moeve Foundation, remarked that “we are undertaking a remarkable project, and we aim to facilitate Santa Cruz’s journey towards enhanced sustainability in the city where Cepsa originated, which was recently converted to Moeve 95 years ago. Our goal is to assist the city in reaching its optimal potential.”
