Urban heritage and public space initiatives reported in Argentina and Spain

In Roldán, Argentina, councilors José María Pedretti and Mariano Mateo have proposed an ordinance to relocate and restore the ‘Plaza de los Lápices’. The project aims to establish the public space within the former Nazareth site, near the Club Atlético Defensores de Sportsman. The initiative seeks to preserve the historical significance of the plaza, which was previously used in Tierra de Sueños I before being repurposed for educational infrastructure. The new space is intended to be an inclusive area for recreation, education, and youth participation, featuring landscaping, lighting, and artistic memorials related to the ‘Noche de los Lápices’.

In Alicante, Spain, the political group Esquerra Unida Podem has denounced the demolition of two buildings in the Benalúa neighborhood on Arquitecto Guardiola Street. The group expressed concern over the loss of architectural heritage in an area designed in 1883 by architect José Guardiola Picó. They noted that the site is slated for a new 17-unit residential building, though a license has not yet been granted. The group criticized the delay in ratifying Alicante’s Protection Catalogue, arguing that the city is allowing its unique urban identity to disappear through demolition rather than rehabilitation.