La Laguna Council, ULL Plan Modular Student Housing
La Laguna City Council and the University of La Laguna met to prioritize student housing solutions, proposing modular buildings on public land and converting empty properties, while also discussing other collaborative projects.
The La Laguna City Council and the University of La Laguna (ULL) met this week to discuss several projects they are working on together. The meeting, held at the University's Rectorate, was led by Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez and ULL Rector Francisco García. Representatives from the Economic and Social Forum (FES) also attended.
A key focus of the meeting, according to the City Council, was to continue finding housing solutions for university students living in La Laguna.
They looked at different city plots where various types of student accommodation could be built. One idea is a pilot project with the Canary Islands Government. This project would use a modular building approach to quickly create at least 50 student homes in the Guajara area.
The mayor explained that the City Council can provide public land for this housing project to both the University and the Canary Islands Government. He specified a municipal plot in the Guajara area, located between the Faculty of Journalism and Finca España. He stressed that the City Council is making it a top priority to solve the lack of student housing.
They also looked at using existing, empty buildings owned by various institutions, which could be converted into student housing. Notably, some Church properties were identified as potential sites, following discussions between the City Council, the University, and the Bishopric.
The meeting also covered other projects from the FES. They highlighted an upcoming study that explores new ways the University and City Council can work together, considering local opportunities and successful examples from other places in Spain and worldwide.
They also stressed the importance of the La Laguna Barometer. This annual FES project, prepared by a university team, helps understand the city's situation by gathering public opinion through surveys and focus groups in various neighborhoods.
Looking to the future, a priority is to create the rules for implementing a participatory budget, a promise from the current local government. They also expressed interest in supporting this process by setting up a new academic position (a 'chair') focused on governance and public participation.
Other topics discussed included the upcoming Campus América in October and the International Campus of La Laguna in July. They also talked about the potential for sharing, providing, and maintaining university facilities.
Finally, both institutions expressed a shared interest in better coordinating the schedules for the Leal Theater and the University Auditorium.