Nearly a decade ago, city officials in Malaga announced their intent to repurpose the Noble Hospital into a civic center. The implementation of this ambition remains uncertain, despite assurances from city officials. Lately, uncertainty has grown even bigger due to the relocation of the water management company dealing with the hospital transformation.
During a recent plenary session in Malaga, the city council emphasised their commitment to the transformation project. However, many people doubt those words, as there has been minimal progress since they announced the agenda. The popular party was the one that included this initiative in the governance agenda way back in 2015. Nonetheless, excluding minor developments such as the construction of a playground and earmarking space for La Malagueta Neighborhood Association, actions are needed.
Franciso de la Torre, the mayor of Malaga, proposed the relocation of the office of the water management company Emasa. According to him, relocating the office to the Teatinos neighborhood meant they could rent out some spaces to private businesses. However, his proposal experienced a legal issue because rules prohibit renting public land meant for civic use to private enterprises. Mayor Francisco de la Torre acknowledged that this roadblock hinders the pursuit of perfection in this project.
On the other hand, the district councilor, Francisco Cantos, suggested that the mayor set realistic expectations. Sharing that the promise of relocating the Noble Hospital is dishonest since Emasa’s move reduces the availability of replacement facilities.
Although the success of this project remains uncertain, residents are still full of hope and await notable progress.