City Approves San Gerardo Church Demolition for Parking, Square Renovation
The Governing Board has approved changes to the demolition plan for the old San Gerardo Church, now including the creation of 80 new parking spaces and a full renovation of José Carlos Schwartz square as part of a broader urban improvement and parking strategy for the La Salud neighborhood.
Last Monday, the Governing Board, chaired by Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez, approved changes to the original plan to demolish the old San Gerardo Church. This proposal, from the Infrastructure department led by councilor Javier Rivero, aims to transform the area by adding 80 new parking spaces and improving José Carlos Schwartz square, among other upgrades, the mayor announced.
Councilor Javier Rivero confirmed that with this approval, the City Council will allow three months for a new project to be submitted. This project will include not only the demolition of the old church and the construction of the car park, but also a complete renovation of José Carlos Schwartz square. He explained that this is largely because the square has accessibility issues, and residents of the La Salud Baja neighborhood have long requested improvements to its pergola area for board games.
Rivero explained that this project change will increase the architect's fees by 30%. The architect, who will also oversee the construction, will receive an additional 17,000 euros, bringing the total above the original nearly 60,000 euros. He also detailed that two other nearby projects have been approved: modifying the sidewalks on José Fonspertuis street (between Mencey Bencomo and Guía de Isora) and demolishing the changing rooms at the San Gerardo court to expand the parking area on the adjacent plot.
The Infrastructure Councilor stated that these three actions are part of a broader parking plan for the La Salud neighborhood. This plan, which the mayor and the city's technical team presented to local representatives in June, is expected to create around 130 new parking spaces in the area. He added that the City Council's position on the proposal to remove the old Rodríguez Galván school from public use and demolish it remains unchanged from what was previously communicated to neighborhood representatives.
Javier Rivero explained that removing the old school from its educational designation remains complicated because some classrooms are still in use and the building has heritage value, preventing its demolition in the short term. He concluded by stating that these actions reinforce the City Council's commitment to improving accessibility, creating new public spaces, and increasing parking in one of the municipality's most densely populated neighborhoods.
It's worth noting that councilors Gladis de León (Security), Evelyn Alonso (Mobility), and Zaida González (Urban Planning and Salud La Salle district) also attended the meeting with La Salud neighborhood residents last June. At that time, two initiatives were presented that could, in the short and medium term, help ease the neighborhood's parking shortage. The mayor stated that this reality led to the commitment that is now taking its necessary preliminary steps.