The city council has already signed the transfer of public land to build the Can 70 houses. They will house 39 people, with community spaces, on Via Augusta.
1. The origin of a dream.
Can 70 began to take shape in 2015. It was a group of about 20 older people who work “to get a alternative to the current model of aging” and presented his project for “cooperativism in housing in transfer of use”, on public land. It is made up above all women from 55 to 70 years old, who have long debated the type of coexistence they want in the final stage of their lives. Their objective was to achieve a space where they could build their house, “a building to return to the city once the period of surface rights ended,” they explain.
2. The model will continue to grow.
In recent months they have completed the number of partners they needed, so now there is a waiting list. But in the short term, other projects along the same lines will be developed, whether on public or private land. Also in municipalities of the metropolitan area.
3. A pioneering approach in a city.
Can 70 is the first initiative of its kind in public land in Barcelona, located in Sarria-Sant Gervasi. In Catalonia and Spain there have been other experiences, especially in rural areas, but not on public land or within urban areas. The philosophy of these homes is that of a community that forms a cooperative and autonomously produces and manages their homes, collaboratively. This one, for seniors, marks the difference with other cooperative constructions because it focuses on people over 60, for whom a home will be built where they can grow old with dignity, comfort and self-assisted care.
4. First steps underway.
Barcelona City Council, through the Municipal Housing and Rehabilitation Institute, signed last week the deed of constitution of surface law for 90 years on two municipal land farms in the Via Augusta 375-381 and 383-387 in favor of the winning cooperative Sostre Cívic, which integrates more than a thousand members. This will develop the project cohousing with the people of the motor group of Can 70. The ground ceded It is valued at 3,565,477 euros and the town hall will subsidize 16% of the cost of the promotion, for an approximate value of 650,000 euros, to be returned in the long term. As the houses will have a bonus permanent of 95% of the IBI and 90% of the construction tax, the municipal investment is estimated at around 4.5 million euros. The successful bidder assumes the cost of construction.
5. The capacity of residents.
The new construction, which will house 39 residentswill integrate 10 floors with a more conventional structure, about 43 square meters, and others 29 original apartments that will be grouped every four or five, around a large common kitchen and dining room, but with individual access to individual accommodation of about 30 square meters (bathroom, bedroom and living room). Some units are connectable so that couples can live together, never exceeding the total community of 39. That way, if one person dies or leaves the building, the space can be readjusted for someone else to access alone. It is expected that there will be numerous common and shared services, community laundry space, care and physiotherapy room, urban garden and orchard, common hot and cold facilities, and others. Only members of the cooperative, over 60 years of age, can live, except possible couples under this maximum age.
6- Characteristics of the design and deadlines.
It is made up of two buildings connected by the semi-basement floor, according to the winning design of the team of architects Peris+Toral, who have worked on the draft through workshops with those involved. Now they are preparing the basic project, as a prelude to the executive and the intention to start the works in a year and finish them in 2026. They will be structured in a semi-basement, ground floor and 4 floors. The spaces for community use of the building are concentrated in the basement. In the rest, the houses.
7. The rules of the game and the cost.
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The transfer of municipal land is part of the Agreement ESAL, which promotes cooperative housing in the city. Being classified as Officially Protected Housing, it is allowed to limit the maximum income for each coexistence unit, explains the consistory. Cohabitants cannot have their own home, or if they do, they must transfer it to the social housing stock. They provide a part of the capital for the construction, but most of it is financed by a bank. With the monthly fee that each one pays for use while they live, the collective loanso that nobody suffers the pressure of an individual loan.
8. Other previous assignment experiences.
The new agreement follows the path of the first surface rights signed by the city council for the housing cooperatives Abril and La Domèstika, last August. The ESAL framework agreement was signed between the municipality and the main federations of cooperatives and social housing foundations, as an innovative cooperation mechanism with the third sector. It is based on assigning public lots to non-profit entities and the transfer of land. This push promotes the construction and rehabilitation of VPOs for rental and co-housing.