Post by account_disabled on Mar 13, 2024 1:27:10 GMT -5
With the aim of revitalizing commerce, the municipal government of Barcelona has launched the Intermedia Locals service . Promoted by Barcelona Activa within the Amunt Persianes Strategy , this project seeks to attract commercial premises that have been empty for at least 12 months to carry out an active search for tenants in exchange for offering a rent that, at least, is 15% less than the appraisal. Miquel Laborde, founding partner of Laborde Marcet, considers the idea positive, but, however, points out that the execution has been “very bad.”
Among the commercial activities to be developed, these premises can be used as shops, offices or workshops and can be owned by both consolidated companies and small entrepreneurs. In the expert's opinion, this “is a discriminatory measure that rewards those who have put their resources into hiring professionals when renting premises in the same way as those who have not tried to promote commerce .”
The spokesperson for the Catalan consultancy Phone Lead considers that this is also a missed opportunity to increase the housing stock and provide a viable long-term solution to the large number of empty commercial premises in Barcelona. “What I would do is rehabilitate the premises and convert them into social housing in those points where it is not necessary to reactivate commerce, but rather expand the residential space,” highlights Miquel Laborde.
Ineffective and unrealistic help
Once the contract is closed, which must be for a minimum of five years, Barcelona Activa grants aid of up to €3,000 that must be used solely for adapting the premises, registering supplies or contracting rental income insurance. A “very unrealistic” aid for Miquel Laborde, who considers that this economic concession “would have to depend on the meters of the premises and the commercial use that can be given to it so that it can be useful for its owners.” One month after the launch of this service, the Intermedia Locals website offers a total of eleven establishments in Barcelona. “It is a populist measure,” Laborde stressed.
According to data from the Census of Commercial Establishments of Catalonia , in the metropolitan area of Barcelona there were a total of 23,876 commercial establishments in 2021, almost two thousand fewer establishments than in 2019 (25,859 establishments) and close to five thousand fewer establishments in comparison. as of 2017 (27,155). The spokesperson for the real estate consultancy emphasizes that this measure will be “ineffective” in the most disabled areas and where there is less commerce if a broad network is not generated by activating a high number of stores that are closed.
Among the commercial activities to be developed, these premises can be used as shops, offices or workshops and can be owned by both consolidated companies and small entrepreneurs. In the expert's opinion, this “is a discriminatory measure that rewards those who have put their resources into hiring professionals when renting premises in the same way as those who have not tried to promote commerce .”
The spokesperson for the Catalan consultancy Phone Lead considers that this is also a missed opportunity to increase the housing stock and provide a viable long-term solution to the large number of empty commercial premises in Barcelona. “What I would do is rehabilitate the premises and convert them into social housing in those points where it is not necessary to reactivate commerce, but rather expand the residential space,” highlights Miquel Laborde.
Ineffective and unrealistic help
Once the contract is closed, which must be for a minimum of five years, Barcelona Activa grants aid of up to €3,000 that must be used solely for adapting the premises, registering supplies or contracting rental income insurance. A “very unrealistic” aid for Miquel Laborde, who considers that this economic concession “would have to depend on the meters of the premises and the commercial use that can be given to it so that it can be useful for its owners.” One month after the launch of this service, the Intermedia Locals website offers a total of eleven establishments in Barcelona. “It is a populist measure,” Laborde stressed.
According to data from the Census of Commercial Establishments of Catalonia , in the metropolitan area of Barcelona there were a total of 23,876 commercial establishments in 2021, almost two thousand fewer establishments than in 2019 (25,859 establishments) and close to five thousand fewer establishments in comparison. as of 2017 (27,155). The spokesperson for the real estate consultancy emphasizes that this measure will be “ineffective” in the most disabled areas and where there is less commerce if a broad network is not generated by activating a high number of stores that are closed.