The Department of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Islands Government has awarded Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council a grant of €2.5 million to facilitate the demolition of an unfinished hotel in Añaza, with the municipal authority given a timeframe of 36 months to complete the task.
The Canary Islands Government, alongside the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, will take “a decisive step” towards resolving one of the most problematic constructions facing the municipality: the incomplete hotel situated on the Añaza coast and the subsequent restoration of the area it occupies, as explained by the council this Tuesday.
José Manuel Bermúdez, the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has emphasised the significance of this initiative as a commitment that is “now closer to being realised,” aiming to restore normalcy and enhance the dignity of this crucial environment for the southwest district.
Meanwhile, Mariano Hernández Zapata, Minister of Ecological Transition, clarified that this investment will not only facilitate the demolition of the notorious structure but will also incorporate the renaturalisation of the environment affected by the demolition. This will significantly contribute to landscape recovery and enhance biodiversity in the area, providing the opportunity to create a new green space within the city.
Zaida González, the Councilor for Urban Planning, outlined the forthcoming steps for this year, which entail proceeding with land expropriation prior to the project’s final approval, after which the demolition will be tendered.
This approach allows for the resolution of a matter that has been under management since 2018 and which responds “to a longstanding demand from the community,” the mayor added.
Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Strategic Planning, Environmental Sustainability and Public Services, noted that demolishing this structure will be pivotal in revitalising the Añaza coastline.
Furthermore, he mentioned that by the end of 2025, the Añaza maritime platform project will be operational, an initiative set to enhance the value of this locality, along with other initiatives aimed at eliminating discharges into the sea in this zone, according to the mayor.
The 22-storey hotel spans 2,350 square metres, with an estimated construction area exceeding 40,000 square metres.
Construction commenced in 1973 as a hotel project featuring 741 apartments but was abandoned two years later, leading to numerous issues of insecurity, accidents, and adverse visual impact, as pointed out by the council.
The City Council hopes that demolishing this infrastructure will represent the final action needed to restore “the quality of life to the residents of Añaza and transform the area into a safe and appealing space for all.”
