Council backtracks on GESA demolition

FOUR years after it approved plans for the new Palma sea front, which included demolition of the GESA building, the Council of Majorca has backtracked and has started to take steps to ensure its protection. A Council spokesman said that this would not affect the future Congress Hall which is to be built nearby, but admitted that the Palma city council would now have to rethink its plans for the area. The spokesman added that the Council had not had any particular interest in preserving the GESA building until the College of Architects asked for a protection order in November 2004. “It is our obligation to study all the requests made, and the College of Architects is an expert in the matter,” he added. However, the entire protection process may take more than six months as it will be open to public debate.
The land was purchased by Nuñez y Navarro for more than 70 million euros with the proviso there was no building on it, so they may now seek compensation. Or return it to GESA, or sell it to a promoter interested in reconverting it. There are several options, which are likely to keep the building in the headlines.