Gracia sports centre expansion plans have taken a crucial step forward as Barcelona City Council approved the special urban plan for the Venus Street site.
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The unanimous decision paves the way for transforming a private car park into much-needed community sports facilities, addressing what local officials describe as “an enormous need” for athletic infrastructure in the densely populated neighbourhood.
Gracia Sports Centre Expansion Addresses Longstanding Community Demand
The newly approved plan establishes public ownership of the plot at Venus Street number 8, located within the block bordered by Perill, Venus, Còrsega and Torrent de l’Olla streets. Consequently, the district of Gracia intends to use this space to build a new sports court that will serve users of the CEM Perill municipal sports centre. Furthermore, this development responds to what councillors acknowledge has been a long-standing neighbourhood demand for improved facilities.
Laia Bonet, Gracia’s district councillor, expressed satisfaction with the approval that should enable the CEM Perill expansion. “When we talk about sport and Gracia, we know this initiative will have a very positive impact,” she stated. “This is especially true in a neighbourhood like Vila de Gracia, which has an enormous need for sports facilities.”
The initiative received cross-party support with votes in favour from Junts, PSC, BComú, ERC and PP, while Vox abstained. Meanwhile, the approval means the parcel, currently occupied by a private car park, will be classified as local community equipment. Accordingly, this designation allows the council to potentially expropriate the land in future, with estimated costs potentially exceeding €2.5 million.
This development represents significant progress for community infrastructure in Gracia, following other recent cultural changes in the neighbourhood such as the closure of the beloved Ona bookstore. The sports centre expansion also aligns with broader municipal efforts to enhance local facilities, similar to the major regeneration project underway in La Mina.
Residents have long advocated for improved sports facilities in this densely populated area of Barcelona. Therefore, the Gracia sports centre expansion represents a significant victory for community campaigning and demonstrates the council’s commitment to addressing local infrastructure gaps through strategic urban planning.
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