Countdown to save one of the most cherished social shelters in the Raval

BarcelonaThe countdown to save the Ágora Juan Andrés Benítez in Raval continues. On May 14, the eviction of this self-managed space, which is key to the neighborhood's social network, was suspended. The Barcelona City Council and Sareb – owner of the land – were given 60 days to try to find a solution. A period that, combined with the August holidays, allowed for three months to seek a way out. But the weeks are passing without, for now, the Government and the so-called "}bad bank of the State have reached an agreement.

The lack of progress worries the neighbors who have managed this space since they occupied it in 2014 in homage to the businessman Juan Andrés Benítez, who died a year earlier on the same street, Aurora, after being subdued by blows by Mossos d'Esquadra officers. Doubts that have increased in recent days, after seeing that, despite the open negotiation, the plot was advertised on two occasions on a real estate portal in search of a buyer.

The announcement asks for 4.2 million euros for the land, which is presented as "an investment opportunity in the heart of Barcelona." It explains that 32 apartments can be built there, twelve of which must be for social housing in compliance with the 30% reserve for protected housing. Also 27 parking spaces and four commercial premises on the ground floor. A horizon that is very different from what the neighbors demand, who want the space to continue to be dedicated to the neighborhood.

City Hall sources explain that they remain in contact with Sareb and are awaiting a date for a new meeting. They maintain that the objective is what the district councilor, Albert Batlle, already stated at the end of April, who in a public district hearing detailed that the council is asking the State to be given "social use". "There is debate about whether it is allocated to affordable housing or facilities, but we will continue to push for public use of this space," he said.

Demonstration on July 9

Given the uncertainty of the situation, the neighbors – who already stopped a first eviction attempt on April 29 and demonstrated in Raval – have called for a new demonstration for this Thursday, July 9, coinciding with the official start of the neighborhood's main festival. In conversation with ARA, Iñaki García – neighborhood leader and founder of the bookstore and cultural association El Lokal – defends the importance of the Agora continuing to be a "living community space".

"We want it to remain as it is while there is no clear project that is not subject to business and that recognizes the memory of Juan Andrés Benítez", he says while listing the virtues of the space. Among them, he places the fact of having become one of the few green areas available in one of the densest and hottest neighborhoods in the city. Also having become a meeting point for the diversity of the neighborhood; a space that organizes thousands of free or affordably priced meals throughout the year, and a meeting place open to many entities. And all this in a self-managed way.

A walk through the Agora shows some of these characteristics. While Anna carefully waters the plants, there are some boys washing dishes after eating. There are also groups of young immigrants chatting in the shade at the tables in the space. Even in a corner, a small playground has been set up with a swing, a slide, and a ping-pong table. Everywhere, signs announcing planned activities in the space. Among them, Saturday's screening of the first episode of the HBO series Ravalejar, with the presence of one of the directors and a neighborhood resident, Pol Rodríguez, or the vegan dinners that are offered every Monday evening in the space.