For five years, the doors of the former Unió Cooperatista Barcelonesa building, a nearly century-old landmark in Barcelona’s Eixample district, have remained firmly shut. Now, local organisations are escalating their demands for action, calling for the vast, empty space to be rehabilitated for community use and for its hazardous asbestos roof to be urgently addressed.
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Located at Carrer del Comte d’Urgell 176, the 3,000-square-metre building has stood largely unused since it closed. Its only recent activity was a brief stint as a Covid-19 vaccination centre for the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona in 2021. An annex is currently used by the charity Càritas to distribute food to vulnerable families, but the main structure remains dormant.
The building’s future has become a point of contention between residents, the Archdiocese of Barcelona which owns the property, and the City Council.
A Battle Won, A Building in Limbo
The Hospital Clínic had previously expressed interest in acquiring the property with a plan to demolish it and construct a six-storey research facility with two basement levels. However, a robust neighbourhood campaign led by the Plataforma Salvem la Unió Cooperatista Barcelonesa successfully halted the demolition.
Their efforts resulted in the initial approval of a Level C heritage protection status in 2023. This cataloguing mandates the preservation of key architectural features. “This is a Level C listing for parts of the building, which requires the conservation of the theatre, the facade, the staircase leading down to the theatre, and the ground-floor openings,” explained Xavier Becerril of the platform.
Faced with these preservation constraints, the hospital withdrew its offer, leaving the historic building with no new project on the table. The stalemate has left local groups frustrated by the lack of progress in a district they say is starved of public facilities. The struggle for community space reflects wider urban challenges, with major projects like the new green hub in Sagrera drawing significant investment while established neighbourhoods vie for resources.
A Community Vision
Local organisations envision the former cooperative as a vibrant centre for community and cultural activities. “This is a neighbourhood with very few facilities for organisations; there are many groups that don’t have their own space to operate,” Mr Becerril told local broadcaster betevé.
The platform proposed that the Barcelona City Council purchase the building. However, the council has declined, citing the high asking price from the Archdiocese, reportedly over 10 million euros, in addition to the substantial costs of rehabilitation. Despite this setback, the platform is not giving up. It is currently developing a detailed cultural and neighbourhood project proposal to present directly to the Archdiocese.
Public Health at Risk
The situation took an urgent turn two weeks ago when strong winds dislodged several panels from the building’s roof. The incident has amplified public health concerns as the roof is known to contain asbestos.
“It’s a public health problem, but also one of building maintenance, which can be damaged,” the platform stated, highlighting the dual threat of asbestos exposure and further structural decay.
In response, the City Council, which opened an urban discipline file against the property a year ago for poor maintenance, has confirmed it will expand the current case. According to reports, the council will demand the Archdiocese implement “precautionary measures” to prevent further damage from weather and will urge them “to accelerate the replacement of the asbestos.”
For its part, the Archdiocese of Barcelona stated that the executive project to replace the asbestos roof is complete. A spokesperson confirmed the plan is currently “in the verification phase to obtain the certificate of suitability.” Once certified, they will apply for the necessary works permit to replace the roof.
As residents and officials await action, the historic cooperative building stands as a silent monument to a rich past and an uncertain future, caught between its protected heritage and the pressing needs of the community it was built to serve.
