The Centre de la Vila, owned by Mercasa, did not find a buyer at the auction held this Wednesday. The property was listed for 25.7 million euros, with a potential reduction to 18.5 million if no bids were received. However, even with these conditions, no buyer emerged, as confirmed by Jordi Giró, president of the Vila Olímpica residents' association.
In recent days, there had been significant pressure from residents and political parties including Junts per Barcelona, ERC, and Barcelona en Comú at the Barcelona City Council to halt the auction. The complex, opened in mid-1996, is now in decline, with dozens of the original 80 businesses closed. The closure of the Yelmo Icària cinema complex in July 2023 and the upcoming shutdown of the Chiqui la Vila nursery at the end of July, which will leave 50-60 children without care, have heightened concerns.
The unsuccessful auction opens new possibilities for the Centre de la Vila's future. The residents' association has long advocated for the building to be acquired by the City Council, either through purchase or cession, to ensure commercial offerings in a neighborhood that, according to Jordi Giró, is increasingly aging.
Until now, the council had rejected the purchase due to the high cost, estimated at around 80 million euros for acquisition and renovation in 2023. Although the previous administration had allocated five million euros from municipal budgets for the purchase, the current council, led by Mayor Jaume Collboni, dismissed the operation. However, Jordi Valls, the deputy mayor for economic affairs, indicated that if the auction failed, the City Council might reconsider its position, especially given the significant price reduction.
Lourdes Arrando, spokesperson for ERC in Sant Martí, urged via X that the City Council resume negotiations with the State to demand the building's cession "urgently".
The building also suffers from significant maintenance issues and structural problems, including water leaks from the parking garage that have affected the apartments above. Residents have filed a lawsuit against Mercasa seeking approximately three million euros for damages. One level of the parking garage is closed due to water accumulation, and leaks have damaged installations and structural elements, alongside deficiencies in the drainage system.
Jordi Valls noted that the Centre de la Vila's parking facility is also subject to legal proceedings, with reported payment disputes between Mercasa and its manager, Merpro. Jordi Giró believes the lawsuit may have alerted potential buyers to the property's condition, prompting them to seek better terms. The residents' association will monitor any potential "Plan B" from the City Council.
