This transfer, agreed upon for a period of 50 years, means the building must be desacralized and will cease to be a Catholic place of worship. To materialize the agreement, which has already begun administrative procedures, the approval of a special urban plan and the rehabilitation of the facility will be required. The parish community will be relocated to the church of Sant Francesc d'Assís.
The Archdiocese justifies the operation as a way to finance the conservation of its vast historical heritage in Barcelona and to provide resources for the activities of the city's parishes. The building, constructed in 1992, is located on municipal land originally ceded to host interreligious services during the Olympic Games.
“"It has been announced with great fanfare, but they have not deigned to speak with anyone in the neighborhood; it is an absolute disgrace."
The Vila Olímpica Neighborhood Association has expressed its displeasure over the lack of consultation with residents and concern about the future of the leisure center that uses the facilities, which serves about a hundred children and young people. The neighborhood entity suggests that if new uses are sought, other social needs of the neighborhood should have been considered.
