Tenerife Council Faces Pressure Over Future of Historic Estévanez-Borges Mansion

The future of the Estévanez-Borges mansion in La Laguna has become a key topic for the Tenerife Island Council, according to a recent report in El País. The debate centers on how to manage the property, which has been a protected Site of Cultural Interest since 2014.

Tension has grown between the Island Council’s initial plan to incorporate the building into the Tenerife Island Photography Center and the cultural community’s desire to preserve its literary history. Supported by the digital magazine Trasdemar, more than 200 artists, academics, and writers argue that the mansion—historically linked to the Estévanez Murphy brothers and artist Francisco Borges Salas—should serve as a dedicated museum and creative space. In response to this pressure, Minister of Culture José Carlos Acha has indicated a willingness to reconsider the building's use, with a meeting between the Council and the initiative’s organizers scheduled for April 6.

The Socialist Group (PSOE) has introduced a motion to the Island Plenary to resolve the dispute through three main steps. First, they are calling for the Council to honor a 2023 commitment to use the property for multidisciplinary purposes with community input. Second, they propose establishing a unit dedicated to managing and promoting Tenerife’s literary tradition through exhibitions, publishing support, and conferences.

Finally, the proposal suggests forming a monitoring commission that includes members of the cultural sector. This group would oversee a strategic plan to balance literary heritage with other artistic uses. This push for shared governance highlights concerns that the mansion’s unique historical identity could be lost if it is managed solely by the institution without prioritizing its specific literary significance.