Overview
- The Urbanism commission, meeting Tuesday, advanced new commercial rules for Ciutat Vella and a Capitol–Telefónica property deal on PSC and Junts votes and also endorsed a Junts call for a traffic “shock plan.”
- The Ciutat Vella rules, a zoning tool that controls what shops can open and where in the old city, are pitched by the government as tighter and more targeted, with limits on cannabis stores, nail salons, and mobile‑accessory shops.
- Barcelona en Comú and ERC voted no, arguing the changes would still allow more tourist‑oriented venues such as clubs, 24‑hour supermarkets, and rental counters, which they say would raise rents and squeeze neighborhood shops.
- The Capitol–Telefónica move would make the Teatro Capitol public while letting its owner, Torcalena, refurbish and run office and retail space in the former Telefónica building, with a pledged €5 million for the theater’s overhaul; critics call the swap a private windfall with weak public return.
- Junts delayed taking a position on a long‑contested 20‑storey tower on Carrer Tarragona, which let the project proceed to the plenary stage as the city reminded the developer that any optional housing must include a 30% share for public stock.