The Barcelona City Council is in negotiations to purchase the Centre de la Vila shopping centre in the Vila Olímpica district for approximately €18 million, according to sources familiar with the talks cited by TOT Barcelona.
The potential acquisition follows the failure of a public auction in June 2026, when no buyer emerged for the property despite a starting price of €25.7 million, later reduced to €18.5 million. The shopping centre, owned by state-owned company Mercasa, has suffered years of neglect, structural issues, and declining occupancy, with only 35 of its 83 units currently operational across 19,000 square metres.
The closure of the Yelmo Icària multiplex in summer 2023 marked a turning point in the site’s decline. Since then, residents have raised concerns over unsafe and unsanitary conditions, particularly in the underground car park, where flooding and water damage on the -3 level have led to legal action.
Renovation Costs Could Reach €30m
Jordi Valls, the city’s fourth deputy mayor for economic affairs, acknowledged the possibility of municipal purchase during a June 2026 economy commission session but stressed the significant challenges. He warned that renovation could cost the city an additional €25 to €30 million, calling it “not a small operation” and noting the building reflects an outdated 1990s commercial model.
“We must not give up on the idea that there might be a private entity with a project there,”
Valls said, indicating the council has not ruled out alternative solutions, including a transfer from Mercasa, a private redevelopment, or a municipal purchase followed by resale after refurbishment.
Municipal Options Still Open
While the council under former mayor Ada Colau had allocated around €5 million for a potential purchase, plans were shelved under current mayor Jaume Collboni due to Mercasa’s initial asking price of up to €40 million. The failed auction has revived interest, with Valls stating the process “will take time” and that the council “should not pay prices that should not be paid.”
If an agreement is reached, the city must decide whether to acquire the property directly or through a municipal entity. One possibility is acquisition via Mercabarna, a public market operator in which the city holds a 7.16% stake, alongside BSM (50.69%) and Mercasa (36.79%).
Local residents and opposition groups, including ERC and Barcelona en Comú, have long urged the city to act, citing the need for expanded commercial and municipal services in the ageing Vila Olímpica neighbourhood. Proposals have included converting the space into a municipal market, though Valls has questioned the area’s commercial density.
The Centre de la Vila currently hosts a Consum supermarket, which is undergoing expansion under a long-term lease. The city has not issued an official statement on the ongoing negotiations as of 13 September 2026.
Reported by totbarcelona.cat, en.ara.cat, elperiodico.com, ara.cat, El Periódico, idealista.com, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, mercabarna.es, diaricatalunya.cat, cronicaglobal.cat, es.ara.cat, beteve.cat, Tot Barcelona.
