Palma.Town planning councillor, Jesus Vall explained yesterday that as the former GESA building is now listed, the process of removing the legal protection surrounding it could take up to ten years.
He added that in any event, the cost of knocking it down could amount to 5 million euros, a sum which the City Council says it just doesn't have for such purposes at the moment. Valls furthered that a study is now ongoing as to what possible use could be made of the GESA building bearing in mind there will be limitations as it is a listed structure.
Although nothing is as yet finally decided, the councillor said that it is essential that the private sector become involved in investing in the building.
Private venture
He claimed that there were already companies who were showing interest, but that the former GESA headquarters could equally be used to house ministries or be exploited by a joint public and private venture. No use is being discounted, he said.
Asked about what physical state the building is in, the Councillor said that a number of checks are being made to find out the exact situation, but that studies so far suggest that it doesn't measure up to official structural standards and that there may be deficiencies.
Valls' comments came in response to prompting from the Socialist opposition on the City Council who wanted assurances that the GESA building is to be put to public, as opposed to private, use.
The opposition also wanted to see proposals for it to be used to promote economic activity of the city. Valls said that the GESA building is not yet owned by the City Council and that 100 million euros may have to be paid to finalise judicial proceedings to ensure the deeds end up in municipal hands.
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