The Town Hall of Sóller and the IBAVI have presented the rehabilitation project of the old Hospice, which will be converted into 13 affordable rental homes. The works, with a budget of €2.66 million, will begin after the high season.
The municipality of Sóller will have 13 new public rental homes following the rehabilitation of the old Hospice, an iconic building located on the street of the same name. The project, presented this Thursday by the Town Hall of Sóller and the Balearic Housing Institute (IBAVI), is part of a broader plan that will add 32 protected flats in the locality, the first that IBAVI has developed in over twenty years.
The intervention, with an estimated budget of €2,659,246 (excluding VAT), will allow the recovery of a municipal property while preserving its most significant heritage elements, such as the original load-bearing walls, wooden beam ceilings, existing arches, and traditional stone and lime mortar finishes. The constructed area designated for the homes will be 1,256.92 square metres.
Of the 13 accommodations, two will be one-bedroom, ten will be two-bedroom, and one will be three-bedroom. The latter will be adapted to ensure accessibility. Additionally, part of the homes will be reserved for people over 60 years old, as explained by the Councillor for Social Services, Llum Castañer.
The homes will be located on the three upper floors of the building, while the ground floor will be allocated for access, installation spaces, waste management, and a municipal use area. The project includes a new communication core with stairs and an elevator, and the roof will be enabled as a community space.
The expected execution period is 14 months, and the works will begin once the high season ends, aiming to minimise inconvenience to neighbours and visitors. The Town Hall will prioritise individuals who can prove a minimum of 18 years of residence in Sóller, in order to facilitate access to housing for local residents.
The Mayor of Sóller highlighted that housing is one of the main concerns of the locals and that this development will recover an iconic building to serve the community. For her part, Councillor Llum Castañer emphasised the importance of reserving part of the flats for those over 60 years old and having fully accessible accommodation, to respond to different population profiles.
This action adds to two other planned developments in Sóller: the old Fantasio cinema, with 11 homes, and the former Ses Marjades school, with 8. In total, IBAVI will incorporate 32 public rental flats in the municipality, a figure that represents a significant boost to the local affordable housing stock.
The Town Hall expressed gratitude for the collaboration of the Government of the Balearic Islands and IBAVI to make these projects possible, which they consider key to facilitating access to decent and affordable housing in Sóller.
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