Barcelona's plan to reclaim Paral·lel for the residents

BarcelonaParal·lel Avenue is today one of the streets in Barcelona most directly experiencing the major transformations of the Catalan capital. At one end, it has the shafts for the future L8 metro line and the first signs of the city's great transformation. the Montjuïc FairOn the other hand, there's the renovation of the access roads to the Port, the hope for a better connection with Morrot, and the recovery of the Three ChimneysA context that the City Council now wants to take advantage of to revitalize a thoroughfare that, despite its renovation a decade ago, has failed to regain its former glory. With this objective, the city's fifth deputy mayor, Raquel Gil, presented the municipal government's project to improve Paral·lel this Wednesday. It comprises 22 measures—with a total cost of over 22 million euros—including actions such as the reopening of the restored Teatre Arnau, the renovation of Plaça de la Bella Dorita and Plaça dels Pajaritos, the refurbishment of the sidewalks at the Poble-sec corner, and the strengthening of the connection between the artistic spaces of Paral·lel and the surrounding area. The aim, therefore, is not to modify the urban planning of an avenue that was renovated less than ten years ago, but rather to "give a boost" to the area by taking advantage of the changes taking place in its surroundings. "Now things are happening around here that are helping us with a transformation that will allow us to build a sense of community," Gil explained. Hence, one of the main pillars of the government's plan is to strengthen the links between the area's cultural fabric, its commercial sector, and its residents. To reinforce the connection of residents with a thoroughfare that is often perceived as a boundary between the three neighborhoods in the three districts—Ciutat Vella, Eixample, and Sants-Montjuïc—that it crosses, the city government wants things to happen on Paral·lel. In this way, they want the avenue to host some of the city's major cultural events, such as the Three Kings Parade—which has already passed through the section from Carbonera to Ronda de Sant Pau for four years—, Sant Jordi, and La Mercè.

Along these lines, the aim is also to foster stable collaboration between the public facilities on the avenue—Paral·lel 62, El Molino, and the future Arnau Theatre—and the residents and social and economic stakeholders of the area. This alliance should be structured through working groups and is intended to generate projects and activities that benefit the community. To try to reduce the inconveniences that the area's leisure offerings pose for residents, the plan also includes increased security during peak hours around these facilities.

The Plaza de las Tres Chimeneas

One of the key features of the new Paral·lel will be the Plaça de les Tres Chimenes (Three Chimneys Square), which is expected to become a central point in the area thanks to the square's redevelopment and the relocation of the Guardia Urbana's (Barcelona's municipal police) Emergency Operations Coordination Center. Beyond the renovation itself, the plan also envisions revitalizing the area's sports activities, providing opportunities for young people to play street basketball, futsal, and even climb on a climbing wall. Among the 22 specific measures in the plan, which is slated for completion in 2028, are improvements to street lighting, increased greenery on sidewalks, and enhanced shaded areas to make the street more resilient to climate change.