Illegal Galician apartment- hotel complex must be demolished

The City Council of Vigo has been ordered to comply within the next 10 days, with the

order to tear down of an apartment- hotel, located on an area, if front of the beach of Samil, by the High Court of Galicia (TSXG). That complex has been declared to be illegal in 1999 and still ruling by the same formation, came up with successive appeals, but the Judicial execution have delayed. The building's measurements are 30 000 square meters landed; 18 000 meters across four floors (180 apartments) and 12 000 meters in two basements for parking. One of the basements is used for some reason as a public place and it's owned by the Town Hall.

The municipality was threatened with a penalty if does not comply with the 1999 ruling.

The Director of the Town Planning- Joseph Marino was the one who released the injunction on Thursday. But even the declaration of surreptious ruling Mr. Marino felt that the general plan of 2008 makes this building legal.

All building licenses were turned over by the court decision, but in all cases the sources say that in fact this is not the reason for the cancellation of the license by the TSXG and therefore by the Supreme Court. The official said is that the cancellation is based on the building permits granted in 1994. After its acceptance by an appeal, which was done by the former Regional Minister of Sanidade- Pablo Padin (then an MP of the Galician Coalition) against the urban form citing it had basic platforms, which the pure study of detail were laying and not through a partial plan.

The system was organized by the general plan of 1993. Most of the complaints, being given a rise are filed by Eduardo Canabal, which first of all were about to get the demolition. But in all cases they haven't come to pass. Torres Ifer gave the last such case, which included such units as the Club Financiero Vigo and of course Canibal himself. After all the City Council finally agreed to the legalization of this construction, but when it came up with the reforms of adapting to the general plan. The last word on this decision is being hold by the courts, which has the right to declare the building's legalization or not.

The building was developed and constructed by Casal Carriero SA Promotions. It includes five architectural modules. Unfortunately the company didn't realize any selling of the third part of it. Some sources of information said that the owner Manuel Casal Carriero was mourning the death of his brother, which was the main reason for the Spanish media to be unable to ask him for an interview. The same sources said that there are investments by the company, in reforms and development of a road, so that it will be a perfect place for the complex, which on a plan includes common services to an apartment hotel, as that one, existed in the general plan of Vigo. It is known that the amount of the investments into this project is something like 800 000 euros. This week will be announced the results of the apply for being approved as a licensed one, at City Hall.

“We will not provide any urban abuse” were the words of Marino before signing off. It was made clear that the City “will strictly comply with the courts' rules” which was obviously by having the fact that a major law firm has worked on changing the ownership of the property, so that buyers do not buy apartments, but having a piece of the “cake” -a company hotel, through wich they pay a fee for usage.