At the top of Rekalde, Uretamendi was one of the main Chabolist settlements in Bilbao, in which thousands of people who had escaped … From rural misery they achieved, without other help than the sweat of their forehead, carry out their children. The San José Obrero center acquired land so that hundreds of families could take a floor at cost. Above, Betolaza’s houses charged, – many are today single -family with views that take away the hypo- where the light did not arrive until 1970. The neighborhood kidnapping of bus 27 in 1978 managed to start up to these neighborhoods shortly after. The neighbors manifested and the City Council told them no, that the bus could not climb through the muddy slopes. Until they demonstrated by force that yes. Today, Uretamendi and Betolaza are the third most vulnerable neighborhood in Bilbao, behind Otxarkoaga and El Peñascal. There are 1,203 homes of an average age of 58 years and only 30.7% have elevator.
Surbisa, the Municipal Urban Rehabilitation Society, landed there in 2023 by order of the plenary to boost works in houses and blocks, in an operation similar to that of other neighborhoods such as Olabeaga or La Ribera de Deusto. The company makes “unique window” and advises neighbors who want to do private or community works, for which they offer their own aid and the Basque Government. And opened an Opengela proximity office, in which an architect and a lawyer attended doubts from Monday to Friday.
The autonomous executive declared 143 of the 202 buildings integrated rehabilitation area in February, so the actions have extra aid, up to one hundred percent, in some cases. At this time, 19 blocks composed of 214 homes have made reforms worth 1.34 million, of which 600,579 have been borne by the institutions. Tews, facades have been changed, elevators or new structure have been made against the damage of the termites … In addition, 39 communities and 27 individuals have been interested in carrying out community or private interventions.
The loss of population due to the march of the usual neighbors and the high weight of pensions and social aid in the family economy also promoted the arrival of Surbisa to the neighborhood. Family income is much lower than that of the average in Bizkaia, and the unemployment index is 11%. «We cannot afford people to go from the neighborhood. With the housing problem there is, that the buildings are empty because they do not meet the conditions is a challenge and a problem, ”says Marta Ibarbia, director of Surbisa. And the neighbors explained that the neighborhood was staying old, that it was neglected, and that in addition to more elevators to relieve the slopes, they needed financial and technical support to make reforms.
Policy needs
In some houses it is impossible to guarantee accessibility or is very expensive. But in addition, the neighbors have other more pressing needs, and therefore, and although there are more aid than in other neighborhoods to make reforms, many people do not even ask for budgets to architects. They think: Why, if you are not going to do? So Surbisa will lift the projects for the execution of community works, for example of elevator and facade. They will reach up to 100% of the hiring cost, up to a maximum of 10,000 euros. The top would be 820 euros per housing for an ambitious plan, which contemplates both types of actions. «In addition, if they have the projects, aids can come out as in their day the Next funds to opt. It is always necessary to have the project to present and opt for financing. If not, the humble communities never reach the calls and the wealthy yes, ”says Ibarbia.
The idea of Surbisa is also to convert those community squares and deteriorated and wastelands that nobody uses in green environments, with life, banks, trees and birds. Therefore, they have launched a special game for patios naturalization. Six “opportunity” spaces have been identified, including Betolaza 48, so that they become special sites, where neighbors can meet, share … In some cases the works are minimal: repair the ground, paint the walls and then install climbing plants, put tables to eat, banks, a collective garden, games … For these works there is a help of 50% in a lost bottom, ” 80%, ”says Ibarbia. The idea is that one is done, and the rest of the communities are encouraged. And so they can end in two or three years.
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