||||The intervention has made it possible to preserve part of the building’s main facade, although its height had to be reduced to ensure stability. The work also involved removing modern coverings and elements added over the decades, revealing the original materials. "We have managed to restore the original appearance of part of the building, exposing the traditional brickwork and restoring its original ironwork," said Urban Planning Councillor Víctor Serrano.
The work began on October 31, 2025, when part of the building’s party wall collapsed toward Terraza Libertad. The incident required the intervention of firefighters and Local Police, who cordoned off the area amid the risk of further collapses. Several nearby businesses were also ordered to close as a precaution, including Kenbo, the terrace at El Plata and the terrace at Bodegas Almau.
An inspection carried out on November 3 identified serious structural problems, including collapsed floors, cracks and the risk of further elements falling. The following day, the City Council declared the building at imminent risk of collapse and ordered emergency stabilization and demolition work. During the operation, which allowed the affected businesses to reopen earlier than expected, part of the main facade was kept standing, although engineers ruled out preserving it in its entirety on safety grounds. The cost of the work will be charged to the owners of the private property.
JUSTICE BACKS PARTIAL DEMOLITION OF THE ESTÉBANES STREET BUILDING
The municipal action was also shaped by legal proceedings after the Apudepa association appealed the declaration that the building was at imminent risk of collapse, given that it was a protected property. However, the Administrative Court rejected the claim and upheld the City Council’s decision in a ruling issued on September 25.
The ruling states that the intervention was justified by the danger posed by the building’s condition. "Heritage protection cannot be interpreted in a way that requires a structure to be physically kept standing when technical reports establish that its condition poses a serious and immediate risk," the court decision says.
The ruling also notes that Apudepa did not submit a technical alternative that would have made it possible to preserve the building while immediately ensuring safety. The City Council, which assumed responsibility for the work on a subsidiary basis due to the emergency, will pass on the cost of all the work carried out to the property owners. With the intervention complete, El Tubo has regained part of the historic appearance of one of its buildings, although the original property could not be fully preserved.
