Reus City Council has evicted and sealed a long-abandoned and occupied building in the La Pastoreta neighbourhood, bringing an end to a decade-long source of problems for local residents. The operation, which began on 12 April, was authorised by an Urban Planning Discipline Decree and supported by the Tarragona Court of First Instance.
The subsidiary action by the council came after the property owner repeatedly failed to respond to official requests and ignored fines imposed by the local authority. Residents of La Pastoreta have welcomed the closure, with one neighbour stating that they “have advanced in what is essential.”
The operation commenced on Sunday, 12 April, when local police officers, known as the Guardia Urbana, arrived at the building on Antoni Fabra i Ribas street. They began notifying occupants one by one that they had to vacate the premises immediately due to unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Over the following days, individuals gathered their belongings and left the property.
The next day, Monday, 13 April, workers began sealing the first-floor windows and the access point facing Avinguda de Salou with bricks. This measure had been long requested by residents to prevent further unauthorised entry. The Guardia Urbana maintained a constant presence throughout the operation to ensure no one accessed the building irregularly during the eviction process, according to municipal sources.
The sealing operation was completed last Friday, 17 April, with the definitive closure of the car park entrance, which had been the primary access point for occupants. The entire process took over a week because officers discovered one person inside who initially refused to leave.
Under the judicial order authorising the eviction and the subsidiary work to seal the building, officers informed the remaining individual of their obligation to vacate. The person eventually complied after accepting temporary accommodation at the Hotel Quality Inn on Avinguda de Salou. Immediately afterwards, the contracted company proceeded to permanently seal the main access route to the premises. A Guardia Urbana patrol has been monitoring the area since the decision was made to empty the building.
Residents Express Relief
“We feel safer,” said Rafael Pastor, a resident who has been prominent in voicing complaints about the problematic block. He believes that “the main and basic solution is done” regarding the building’s closure. “After so long, we are calm,” Pastor added.
However, Pastor also highlighted that residents had requested municipal authorities to clean up the accumulated dirt inside the building, a task that has not yet been carried out. He noted that “when it rains, the lower parts flood and, in summer, there are many flies and bad odours multiply.” Municipal sources indicated that, with the space now sealed, internal cleaning is currently “not urgent.”
The block, comprising two buildings connected by an underground car park, became vacant after the 2008 financial crisis despite being fully equipped. Since then, it had deteriorated significantly, becoming a constant source of problems for the neighbourhood, including repeated occupations, vandalism, accumulated rubbish, foul odours, fires, robberies, and threats.
Council's Long Battle with Property Owner
Reus City Council had repeatedly demanded that the construction company, Carmen y Riba SL, ensure the building’s safety and sanitary conditions. The council even imposed three coercive fines totalling €4,500 due to the company’s lack of response. Given the owner’s inaction, the council published an eviction order and a sealing notice in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 20 March 2026.
These initial measures proved ineffective because people were still residing inside the property. Consequently, the council began exploring all available legal options to address the situation and implement a lasting solution. The successful eviction and sealing operation marks the culmination of these efforts, resolving a long-standing issue for the community.
