The councillor for Municipal Housing, Belén Mesa, has visited the improvement works on the duplexes in Cuesta Piedra, which include carpentry repairs, parking, and hot water. Residents have been waiting for these actions since the delivery of the homes 13 years ago.
The Municipal Housing councillor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Belén Mesa, toured this week the common areas of the duplexes in Cuesta Piedra to supervise the state of works that residents had been demanding for years. The work, financed with money from a lawsuit won by the residents against the builder, has involved a significant investment in improving the metal carpentry, concrete walls, and exterior stairs of all the blocks.
The 108 homes were delivered in 2013, but since then problems have continued to accumulate. The underground parking beneath the square, for example, had never been handed over to residents due to the poor condition of the ceiling, which presented debris and dampness. Now, following the intervention, the finish has been restored and the leaks that had raised the flooring have been corrected.
A comprehensive rehabilitation with a community stamp
The project has not been limited to structural work. The reform and adaptation of the hot water facilities has also been carried out, with the replacement of tanks on the roofs and a system that prevents heat loss. An improvement that, according to technicians, will result in a notable energy saving for residents.
Celso Blanco, one of the residents who pushed for Cuesta Piedra's inclusion in the housing renewal agreement of the La Candelaria Society, recalled that the original agreement from 1992 was expanded to cover the 355 homes in the neighbourhood. "A model of a neighbourhood for a model of a city," was the motto that guided the restoration, which has been nationally recognised as an example of citizen participation.
From terraced houses to modern duplexes
The story of Cuesta Piedra is one of radical transformation. From the original 355 single-family homes, it moved to an initial promotion of 72 flats in 2006, then 64 duplexes, and finally the 108 homes delivered in 2013. Residents were voluntarily relocated to other areas while the new homes were being built.
Candelaria Santos Sánchez, a lifelong resident, explained that she lived in one of the old terraced houses on Arafo Street. "I am happy with my house," she stated, although she acknowledged that dampness was a constant problem in the 40-square-metre homes. Now, with the works completed, she hopes the problems will be behind her.
The councillor's visit also served to check the level of satisfaction of the residents. Belén Mesa highlighted that these works are the result of collaboration between the City Council and the residents, and that the Cuesta Piedra model has inspired other cities. The work, carried out by the construction company San José, has been supervised by the residents themselves, who have approved the actions.
For the residents, the end of the works represents a relief after years of waiting. The underground parking, which had remained closed, will soon be available, improving the quality of life in the neighbourhood. The councillor assured that the City Council will continue to monitor the maintenance of the homes to prevent problems from recurring.
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