The Santa Cruz Urban Planning Management intends to enhance its capabilities to expedite the expropriation of plots or residential properties situated in zones where public land is essential. This initiative aims to create new areas within the city or to promote protected housing. To facilitate this, and always dependent on budget availability, the department plans to commence these actions ex officio, with a goal of acquiring additional land for new roads and municipal facilities.
This announcement was made yesterday by Councillor Zaida González (PP) during the presentation of the area’s budget for 2025, which totals €13.6 million, a decrease of €400,000 compared to the previous year, and which she labelled as “transitory.” The councillor elucidated that, in collaboration with the Infrastructure department, “this year will see the expropriation of plots or properties around Casa Pisaca, in the El Toscal neighbourhood, where a parking facility for approximately 300 vehicles will be constructed; as well as those already undertaken at the San Rafael and San Roque cemetery, where a pedestrian promenade will be developed; in addition to works related to the substantial land parcel on Islas Canarias Avenue, alongside the completion of projects on Juan Martín Vives and Tajinaste streets, and those concerning the expansion of the TF-180, which connects Santa Cruz and Laguna, for which funding is still awaited from the Cabildo.”
González emphasised that “acquiring land for public projects will become increasingly significant, as the city council has enhanced its capacity to implement projects that require land for their realisation.” In this regard, she added that “the efforts made in urban discipline will result in an increase in subsidiary execution actions by the Management, for which €500,000 will be allocated in the budget, enabling the council to intervene in the enclosure of walls or in abandoned lots or properties whose owners are untraceable.” Consequently, Chapter VI of the Urban Planning budget will be €5 million in 2025, up from €3.5 million in 2024, an increase that also extends to Chapter I (personnel), which will amount to €6.5 million, nearly €200,000 more.
Other planned initiatives will involve the continuation of the General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU), which is currently in the award phase and which, “due to the unfortunate delays stemming from its complexity, has necessitated the hiring of an external company for its drafting (€1.6 million).”
González remarked that “progress will be made on specific modifications to the current planning, such as the completion of the Las Teresitas front to reform the beach, along with updates to the Cornisa road or initiatives for the protection catalog, including the Hotels plan and the historical areas of Santa Cruz. Furthermore, procedures will advance to demolish the Añaza hotel and, in June, the Building ordinance will be sanctioned, allowing for the establishment of high-rise parking facilities within the city.”
A grand event at Salud-La Salle to commemorate Family Day
The Santa Cruz City Council, via the Salud-La Salle district office, will allocate a budget of €800,000 this year for various festive events, including Burger Fest, the Empápate festival, and the Mercaveranea or the Tapas and Wine Fair, which will return to La Granja park following the success of its inaugural edition held at the end of last year.
Additionally, as a new addition, this same venue will be the site for Family Day festivities next May, featuring performances, children’s workshops, and gourmet areas.
The district councillor, Zaida González (PP), stated yesterday that the objective is to “revitalise and invigorate the Salud-La Salle area, ensuring that not all the major celebrations occur in the central zone.”
The councillor noted that other initiatives planned for 2025 include continuing the paving of streets, particularly in the upper region of La Salud, in addition to executing the second phase of paving the Divina Pastora car park. “This is a project requested by the residents, as the current pavement is significantly worn due to traffic.”
