La Laguna Unveils Management Plan for Historic City, Prioritizes Public Input

The former Santo Domingo convent was the location for the latest meeting of La Laguna's Municipal Council of Cultural Heritage yesterday. The meeting was led by Adolfo Cordobés, the Councilor for Cultural Heritage.

During the meeting, the council officially presented the development stages of the first Management Plan for the historic city. They also presented documents that will regulate traffic, the design of public spaces, and lighting. According to the city council, the most important announcement was the creation of a comprehensive plan to get people involved and informed. This plan will go hand-in-hand with all the other plans, including the review of the Special Protection Plan (PEP) for the historic center, which is planned as a major project for 2026.

The Management Plan is a response to UNESCO's requirements and will act as a practical tool to support and strengthen the PEP. The PEP will be reviewed in 2026, twenty years after it was first put in place.

The updated PEP will allow for a larger list of protected buildings (adding to the current changes to include over 70 ground-level houses). It will also review design and regulatory guidelines and address issues like restoring natural elements to patios, expanding the preservation of back gardens, regulating shared walls, improving the visual appearance from above, and reducing the visual impact on the surrounding environment and entrances to the historic city.

A key part of the plan is a large-scale public engagement program. This program was included as a specific element in the recent bidding process for the Management Plan, which is currently in the awarding phase. The goal is to create an ongoing and structured conversation with heritage experts, organizations, local residents, social and cultural groups, and the general public. Their input will be incorporated into the plans for management, lighting, traffic, space design, and the PEP review.

The aim is to move beyond simply receiving individual complaints and create open, dynamic, and inclusive spaces for discussion. A team of experts in sociology, political science, social work, communication, architecture, and digital design will be available to ensure both technical quality and clear communication.

Their work will continue for several years, allowing them to incorporate needs and suggestions into the plans and the PEP review. These efforts will be combined into a single, large-scale public engagement program for the historic city, designed to encourage public participation, simplify processes, save time and money, and avoid duplicated efforts.

Adolfo Cordobés, who is also Councilor for Land Planning and managing director of the Urban Planning Department, emphasized that "this public engagement strategy will be key for La Laguna to not only update its protection measures but also redefine its vision for a heritage city, committed to a vibrant community where conservation and development go hand in hand."

Beatriz Simón, head of the Historic Center Management Service and the Comprehensive Management Office of the Historic City, added, "La Laguna does not want to be an empty tourist destination or a gentrified city. We want a balanced, accessible, sustainable, and people-centered environment, while ensuring the conservation, protection, and promotion of our heritage."

The Council also discussed other topics, such as a sculptural tribute to important women in local history, the declaration of the Monument to Father Anchieta as a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC), and institutional recognition for Amaro Pargo. Information was also provided on funding efforts for the Casa Anchieta interpretation center and on meetings related to archaeological surveys near the cathedral.