Barcelona City Council is still considering buying the Vila de la Vila Centre in Vila Olímpica, Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle said on Wednesday 21st October, after a June auction for the shopping centre failed.

The decision matters to Vila Olímpica residents because most commercial units in the building remain closed, while the council says a purchase could allow commercial activity to return, create space for public facilities and address structural problems at the site. No purchase agreement or final council decision has been announced.

Batlle said the Ajuntament, Barcelona's city council, remains in contact with Mercasa, the state-owned company that manages the centre. Municipal technicians are examining the building's running costs, the income it produces and the financial risks of an acquisition.

Price remains the central obstacle

Speaking in the council's Presidency Commission after a question from Junts councillor Josep Rius, Batlle said the administration had rejected earlier proposals because it considered the price too high and difficult to value.

  • Mercasa initially proposed a price of €80 million.
  • The figure was later reduced to €40 million.
  • The most recent proposal was €27 million, Batlle said.
“We are looking for solutions that will allow us to recover commercial activity, accommodate facilities, and resolve the structural problems of the building.”Albert Batlle, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona

Batlle said the council was assessing not only the possible acquisition but also the opportunities created by refurbishing and reviving the centre. He added that the city government was seeking a rigorous assessment before committing public money.

June auction did not produce a sale

Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls had said in February that the council preferred to wait until after an auction organised by Segipsa, the state company responsible for managing public assets. The auction was held on 10th June, with a starting price of between €18 million and €27 million, and was unsuccessful.

Rius told the commission that the building had continued to deteriorate while the council's position remained unresolved. He also said residents had brought a court case over the situation.

For residents and businesses in Vila Olímpica, the immediate position is unchanged: the centre remains under Mercasa management while Barcelona City Council completes its assessment of a potential purchase.

Reported by laciutat.cat, La Ciutat.