The mayor of Guadalajara, Ana Guarinos, today presented the Integrated Action Plan of Guadalajara that includes the projects competing for European aid from the Local Integrated Development Strategy (EDIL), «which is the municipal strategic instrument that will establish the roadmap to advance in the coming years towards a more humane, connected, and naturalized city project. Transforming the city and making Guadalajara a city to live in and coexist.»
This call for European FEDER funds replaces the previous EDUSI grants and has a budget of 175 million euros for the entire region. Guadalajara, as a large city with more than 75,000 inhabitants, is eligible for 17 million euros through competitive application, as explained by the mayor. She stated, «We will make the most of this opportunity and obtain the maximum possible funding for the implementation of three major projects for the transformation and modernization of the city.»
Guarinos highlighted initiatives such as the socio-economic and physical revitalization of the historic center through improvements in public spaces, humanization, and accessibility enhancements of main thoroughfares to make the urban environment safer and more accessible, energy efficiency improvements, creation of new green spaces, revitalization of the historical heritage, and improvement of the city’s tourism offering.
All initiatives are divided into three lines of action: Guadalajara heritage, tourism, and university; Guadalajara competitive and livable; and Guadalajara community and coexistence, which the mayor detailed in how they affect the city’s three main axes.
The first axis is Avda. del Ejército – Plaza de España – Alcázar, focusing on the revitalization of the Historic Center, the city’s heart, and its connection to the University Campus and the Train Station. The goal is to strengthen sustainable mobility, improve the quality of public spaces, and enhance Guadalajara’s cultural heritage with the Alcázar to boost tourism.
The second axis is Glorieta Víctimas del Terrorismo – Glorieta de Bejanque, a commercial hub traditionally essential for the socio-economic life of the city center. Here, solutions to reduce air and noise pollution will be promoted, including the restoration of the aesthetics of Paseo de las Cruces with colors and crosses.
The third axis runs through Calle Cardenal González de Mendoza, focusing on the surroundings of the Francisco Sobrino Museum and the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Antigua. The aim is to enhance safety, accessibility, and naturalize the space by providing new transit-friendly public spaces and naturalization solutions.
These three actions represent an investment of 20 million euros, with 85% co-financing from FEDER funds. The projects’ execution deadline is until December 31, 2029.
The presentation of the Integrated Action Plan of Guadalajara took place this morning at the Municipal Tourist Office, with the participation of the councilor of Infrastructures, Santiago López, the councilor of Finance and Urban Planning, Alfonso Esteban, and the municipal technicians from various departments involved in the pre-project development.
«An elaborated design and a product of participation»
López Pomeda highlighted the extensive work done from the beginning of the mandate to prepare the Integrated Action Plan, which features «an elaborated design and the added value of being the result of citizen participation and active listening. A factor we consider essential for our management.» He explained that technical municipal sessions, interdepartmental technical meetings, participative meetings with key stakeholders such as professional associations and social sectors, and a citizen survey through the municipal website with over 300 participants were conducted.
He also mentioned that the sculpture of Francisco Sobrino was chosen as the image of the PAI, «welcoming the city at kilometer 53 of the A-2, as it encapsulates the urbanism image we aim to project, where citizens interact with public spaces. The sculpture is called ‘Relationships.'»
«Congress Palace next to the Alcázar»
On the other hand, the councilor of Urbanism and Finance, Alfonso Esteban, emphasized that «the strategy outlining city objectives is already defined for Guadalajara to be a city to live in and coexist.» These action axes will now be translated into specific projects.
He also referred to the specific project for the Alcázar, which has been considered a priority by the Government Team in their commitment to historical heritage. «We will definitively act to make the Alcázar available to all city residents and visitors, with a permanent use proposal, in addition to enhancing the heritage by creating the Guadalajara Congress Palace in its surroundings.»
From the municipal technical areas, Enrique Jiménez, as the head of the Infrastructure department, explained the accessibility and sustainability improvements of the proposed actions. The head of the Urban Planning department, Blanca Causapie, expressed optimism in obtaining the maximum amount of aid, as «Guadalajara has a high rate of executing previous European funds programs.»
FUENTE