The Administrative Court compels the City Council of Madrid to re-examine the license of a private car park with 218 spaces on Abtao and Cavanilles streets in Retiro. Residents have been reporting irregularities for years.
Residents of Abtao and Cavanilles streets in the Retiro district have achieved a judicial victory that forces the City Council of Madrid to review the license of a four-storey private car park with 218 spaces. The court has partially accepted the appeal filed by the homeowners' association of Abtao 25, as was revealed this Thursday.
A project that started in 2023
The car park, promoted by the real estate company Grupanxon on a plot acquired in 2016, obtained municipal licensing in 2023. The funding was provided by the real estate crowdfunding platform Urbanitae. Construction began shortly thereafter, but soon caused discontent among residents.
Residents reported constant noise, traffic disruptions, and the entry and exit of heavy trucks. Additionally, the construction has been intermittent since it began, prolonging the disturbances for months.
The heavy machinery incident
The peak of tension occurred in March 2024, when police prevented the developers from transporting heavy machinery over a block of flats. Although the City Council had initially authorized the operation, officers halted it due to residents' fears. It was later discovered that the company lacked the necessary license for that maneuver.
This incident led the City Council to halt construction to examine the license. However, the City Council itself concluded that it would not conduct a review ex officio, prompting residents to take legal action.
The court ruling: municipal contradiction and nonexistent exit
The judge highlighted the contradiction of the City Council, which first granted the license and then agreed to review it. Furthermore, he focused on one of the most controversial points: the lack of a real exit from the car park onto Cavanilles street. According to the ruling, that exit does not exist in practice, as it is closed and has never been used.
This circumstance could render the project unviable, according to the ruling. Construction has been halted again, and residents celebrate the decision, although the future of the car park remains uncertain.
What it means for the residents of Retiro
For the residents of Abtao and Cavanilles, the judicial decision represents a relief after years of struggle. The halt in construction prevents, at least for now, daily disturbances and uncertainty regarding traffic in the area. Additionally, the review of the license could lead to a substantial modification of the project or even its definitive cancellation.
The car park, which aimed to serve an area with high parking demand, now faces a significant legal obstacle. Residents hope that justice will put an end to what they consider an irregular concession.
The City Council of Madrid must now re-examine the license and decide whether to maintain, modify, or revoke the authorization. In the meantime, the site remains under construction, awaiting a resolution that seems distant.
