Here's an interesting recent article that discusses the redevelopment project of Las Ramblas, Barcelona's most iconic thoroughfare, with the aim of reclaiming it from the overwhelming influence of tourism and gentrification, and returning it back to the city’s locals - https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-09-21/tourists-also-want-an-authentic-city-not-a-theme-park-the-redevelopment-plan-that-seeks-to-give-la-rambla-back-to-barcelona-residents.html
As you have probably heard, this comes as a combined strategy to save Barcelona from being "loved to death" by overtourism, other recent efforts include banning airbnbs, moving cruise ship docking away from the old town, and revamping the tourist marketing/messaging for Barcelona.
These days Las Ramblas is avoided like the plague by locals and is mostly used by tourists as a promenade of overpriced Sangria and Paella. Tourists use it longitudinally, while locals cross it transversally like a boundary, to get from neighborhood to neighborhood. As for this project to renovate Las Ramblas for a more local-centric use, it will be completed by February 2027, in three phases. The first phase involving the area around the Columbus monument near the port was recently completed. Here's a breakdown of other things being implemented:
Sidewalks will be widened from 3.5 meters to 5 meters, and the central promenade will also be expanded.
Vehicle lanes will be reduced from four to two, though some restricted vehicle access will remain, especially for buses and local services.
Three new squares will be created at key points where the old medieval city gates were located
The historic La Foneria will become an immersive art center.A second opera center, complementing the classic Liceu, will be added closer to the sea.
Existing cultural institutions like Teatro Principal, CCCB, and MACBA will be leveraged to boost cultural activity.
More trees (375, mostly plane trees) will be planted.
Improved and standardized lighting and street furniture will create a more cohesive aesthetic.
The plan seeks to limit the proliferation of tourist shops (e.g., souvenir stands, low-quality restaurants) by promoting local businesses and neighborhood shops.
To combat gentrification, there are proposals to cap rents and ensure affordable housing in the area.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about this redevelopment project. On the one hand, the idea of reclaiming this are from overwhelming tourism and gentrification is long overdue. Las Ramblas, once an important part of the city's cultural and social life, but has become little more than a crowded tourist funnel. It feels disconnected from the daily life of most residents. The emphasis on promoting local businesses over tourist shops is particularly appealing. There’s a clear sense that the street has lost its soul, with souvenir shops and subpar restaurants replacing what could have been authentic, neighborhood serving commerce.
However, I can’t help but feel skeptical about the project’s ability to genuinely solve some of the deeper issues, especially gentrification. The proposal to make housing more affordable sounds great, but similar initiatives have been talked about for years without much real action. Many of us fear that the renovation will ultimately raise property values and continue pushing locals out, even if some measures are put in place. As for the tourism aspect, while the project aims to bring in "better-behaved" tourists, it's unclear how that can be effectively managed.
Overall, for many locals, I think this project represents cautious optimism for going in the right direction.