The agreement, signed this Tuesday, will enable the construction of up to 680 homes for affordable rent within a projected timeframe of two years. This operation represents a significant step forward in the implementation of the Agüimes Housing Plan, which aims to provide housing solutions for the local population by building over 1,700 rent-controlled homes, priced up to 50% below market rates.
The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Mixed Association, located in the Arinaga Industrial Zone. Attendees included the mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, the president of the Cabildo, Antonio Morales, and the insular Government Minister of Finance and Emergencies, Pedro Francisco Justo. Through this transaction, the 116 plots, covering over 22,000 m2 of developed land, now belong to the Agüimes City Council, valued at 4.5 million euros.
The Agüimes Housing Plan, approved by the municipal plenary in June, will be executed in three phases. The first phase plans for the creation of 224 homes in various developable land areas within Agüimes and Arinaga. Specifically, two public plots in the town center (652 m2 and 1,578 m2) are reserved for the construction of 15 and 66 houses, respectively. In Arinaga, a 3,327 m2 plot is estimated to accommodate approximately 143 units. The second phase, which can now be processed concurrently with the first following Tuesday's agreement, will focus on the Cruce de Arinaga area, utilizing several public land parcels. The third phase foresees the development of 911 units in La Goleta, Agüimes casco, and Cruce de Arinaga.
The homes will be built by private developers on public land. These companies will manage the rentals at a price at least 50% lower than the free market rate, in exchange for a concession for a specified number of years, after which the properties will revert to public ownership. This agreement further advances the execution of the Protected Housing Development Plan ‘Tus raíces ¡Vive Agüimes!’, an initiative aimed at addressing the housing crisis in the municipality through public-private collaboration.
