The Barcelona City Council presented a special plan for uses that seeks, as a first measure, to restrict and regulate the opening of new restaurants, bars, food stores and other activities in the Eixample district.
The objective is to avoid the concentration of these establishments on pedestrian streets.
The municipal government stated that the measure seeks to “preserve local commerce and avoid gentrification” in the district.
It is also expected that four streets will be pedestrianized during the current term of Mayor Ada Colau and another twenty over the course of the next ten years.
Girona Street model to be applied in the Eixample district
By regulating commercial activity, the aim is to apply the Girona Street model. Everything is aimed at avoiding the concentration and excess of commercial premises at the same point.
In this regard, the new plan for Eixample uses stipulates density and distance requirements between premises.
Also minimum and maximum areas for restaurants, gyms, games, attractions, tourist activities, musicals, food stores, among others.
The presentation of the document marked the beginning of a two-month participatory process. The aim is to gather the opinions of the neighborhood, entities and political groups before approving the final plan.
Specifically, the new plan will only allow the operation of a maximum of five premises within a radius of 50 meters, as well as a maximum of 18 premises within a radius of 100 meters.
Audiovisual and musical activities may only take place on streets wider than 25 meters.
