The group Por Andalucía has registered a non-legislative proposal in the Andalusian Parliament for the Junta to declare the corralones on Castellar Street as a cultural asset of interest. The measure aims to curb real estate speculation and protect these spaces as places of ethnological interest.
The left in Seville continues to take action regarding the corralones on Castellar Street. The group Por Andalucía, which includes IU and Sumar, registered a non-legislative proposal (PNL) in the Andalusian Parliament on Tuesday for the Junta to declare these buildings as cultural assets of interest (BIC) with the category of places of ethnological interest. The initiative, signed by deputy Esperanza Gómez, comes after the local PSOE showed support for the squatters following incidents with the eviction company on July 7.
A legal shield against speculation
The PNL urges the government of Juanma Moreno to initiate the protection procedure provided for in the Cultural Heritage Law of Andalusia. According to the law, places of ethnological interest are those spaces linked to ways of life, culture, or traditional activities in Andalusia. If the corralones receive this classification, their sale would be subject to restrictions and under public administration control, making it difficult to convert them into hotels or tourist apartments.
“What is happening in the corralones is the consequence of a model that places real estate business above people and common heritage,” criticized Esperanza Gómez. The deputy added that “Moreno cannot continue to be a spectator while speculation expels those who keep the history of Seville alive.”
The squatters on Castellar Street have been denouncing for months that the property intends to sell the building after a renovation, which, according to them, would increase rents and displace residents. However, the property has denied that there is any urban operation to convert the space into a hotel, calling it a “lie” to justify the occupation.
PSOE also tightens the screws
Support for the squatters is not new. The socialist spokesperson in the Seville City Council and former mayor, Antonio Muñoz, already condemned the actions of the eviction company, which he accused of “violently breaking into” a tenant's home. Muñoz also warned of a supposed plan to replace a school – the Calderón de la Barca – with a hotel and to replace protected housing with luxury apartments.
The spokesperson for the municipal government, Juan Bueno, responded to these accusations by denying any “urban speculation.” In a press release, Bueno stated that the real problem with the corralones is public safety, “triggered by the illegal occupation of certain homes that PSOE is trying to hide.” He challenged the socialists to “request more national police for Seville from the government.”
A conflict that divides the neighbourhood
While the parties are embroiled in conflict, the residents of Castellar Street are suffering the consequences. Sources in the area claim that fights and noise have been constant since the squatters took over the corralones. “Not everyone living there is a squatter, but those who are create insecurity,” explains a resident who prefers to remain anonymous.
For Por Andalucía, heritage protection is the only way forward. “The corralones are not a plot of land for business. They are unique spaces for creation, coexistence, and collective memory,” defended Esperanza Gómez. The deputy insisted that “culture is also defended by preventing greed from destroying what belongs to all citizens.”
The PNL will be debated in Parliament in the coming weeks. If approved, the Junta would have to initiate the process to declare the corralones BIC, a process that could take months. Meanwhile, Castellar Street remains the epicentre of a struggle between the right to housing, speculation, and public safety.
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