The agreement includes that the people in charge of the temple will pay 36 million in 10 years to compensate the impact and the problems that their activity generates in the neighborhood, with the presence of 20 million people visiting the basilica per year, of which 4.5 million, visits the interior. For later it is the decision on the great staircase of the facade of the Glory, if it is done as planned in the project, which would force to knock down two blocks of the widening (something rejected by neighbors and City Council).
"The agreement with the Sagrada Familia includes the regularization of the works, after 130 years of work without a license," the Barcelona City Council said in a statement after the agreement.
The municipality of Barcelona and the Board of the Basilica signed an agreement that, in addition to regularizing the works, will maintain the current capacity until 2026. The 36 million euros in 10 years will serve to improve urbanization, mobility, public transport and maintenance of the public space around the basilica.
Specifically, the agreement states that the Sagrada Familia will pay the following breakdown by subjects, such as 22 million euros to improve the bus service and another 7 million will be dedicated to making a new access to the metro line, direct to the basilica, or, to extend the current ones. Another 4 million euros have been planned to improve the state of the surrounding urbanization and 3 for the maintenance and cleaning of the public space.
The mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, explained that the pact with the Sagrada Familia is a historic agreement and "from co-responsibility is very good for the city of Barcelona, in general, for the neighborhood, the temple and the City of Barcelona" Colau has stressed that the negotiation has not been easy, but that an understanding has finally been reached.
The main structure is due to be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death.
"After more than 130 years of coexistence, an agreement has been reached" and that is what must be done now, commented Esteve Camps, delegate president of the Sagrada Familia's governing board, is necessary a solution for staircase of the facade of the Glory.
However, not everyone seems to be satisfied. For the town planning manager of the Sagrada Familia neighborhood association, Joan Itxaso, the agreement has been made with the backs of the neighbors. He says that the contribution by the temple will make to the transport and the public space of the neighborhood is still small compared to the annual profits obtained by this monument, and criticizes that there is still a stairway that would force the demolition of two blocks in Mallorca Street.
