In the San Francisco 37 area of Tolosa, a new residential block will be built behind the Sagrado Corazón villa. Although justice has validated the City Council's procedure, some residents still question it. The villa's protection, included in the catalogue of municipal heritage assets, fails to generate consensus among politicians or citizens, and is framed within the area's urban planning controversy.
The Sagrado Corazón villa, designed by Julián and Guillermo Eizaguirre in 1905, is the last standing historic villa among several that once distinguished the old San Francisco promenade. In mid-2022, its demolition was approved to build two housing blocks. However, a few months later, the heritage association Áncora requested intervention from the Basque Government to save the building, considering it "one of the best local examples of its typology" and an "original exercise in eclecticism." Later, in 2023, the Ararteko (Ombudsman) recommended the regional government declare it "cultural heritage," a sentiment echoed by the Culture Commission of the Basque Parliament.
Following the arrival of the new municipal government led by EH Bildu, the chalet was included in the municipal catalogue in early 2024, thus protected from demolition. This led to a new development plan, agreed with the developer, which consolidated the initially planned 23 homes into a single, taller building. The controversy intensified after the definitive approval of this modification in a council session, with only the governing team's votes, and it seems headed for a protracted saga.
The latest chapter focuses precisely on the protection of the Sagrado Corazón villa. The PSE-EE criticizes the current municipal government for creating a catalogue of protected buildings "for its supposed historical-cultural value," arguing that "to save a building of questionable value, action was taken precipitously." This criticism is part of a broader complaint by the socialist group, which labels the approved urban development project as "a complete mess." They conclude, "The cost of keeping the villa standing will be paid by the people of Tolosa forever, especially those living in the vicinity."
Meanwhile, the City Council defends the ongoing urban development as the "only viable way" to guarantee the protection of the historic San Francisco chalet. "The protection of the villa aligns with the professional criteria of both municipal technical services and various heritage institutions and entities," the council states, adding that the building "is considered one of the most unique architectural examples in Tolosa, notable for its historical, urbanistic, and aesthetic value."
Varied opinions on the street. Beyond the political debate, there is also a division of opinions among ordinary citizens. "It would have been a shame to demolish such a characteristic building of Tolosa," says a resident walking past the property, which displays signs for the construction behind it. "If experts believe it should be preserved, I think it's fine. Let it serve as a reminder of what the town once was," comments another resident.
"Of all the historic chalets that have been torn down, I think this is the least valuable," assures another citizen, while a final one expresses: "I don't know if there are artistic or architectural reasons to keep it standing, but I understand the residents' complaints because the building they are constructing is huge and doesn't fit the surroundings at all. I'm sure there were other alternatives." Opinions that continue to fuel an endless debate.
