Although we cannot yet talk about a specific date, the procedures for the demolition of the Papagayo Arena hotel are continuing. This was confirmed this Friday by the general director of Coasts, José Fernández, who in his new visit to Lanzarote has also announced that the institution he directs "will study initiating similar actions" with the Gran Castillo Hotel, located next to the Papagayo Arena, and whose license has also been annulled by the Superior Court of Justice recently. He has stated that Costas has learned about the legal situation of the Gran Castillo through the Cabildo of Lanzarote.
José Fernández has acknowledged that the Ministry of the Environment only intervenes "exceptionally in the recovery of the territory" on such voluminous buildings "and this, is one of them because we think it is worth it", referring to the Papagayo Arena Hotel. Thus clarifying that they are not going to intervene in all the hotels affected by the maritime-terrestrial demarcation that has increased from 20 meters of public easement to 100 meters. "It is not an obsession to demolish hotels" but to recover, as in the case of the Papagayo Arena "a beach that had very interesting values" so that "many people enjoy the sea and the beach as what they are and for what they are".
The general director of Coasts has also confirmed that the price that the State will have to pay to the owners of the hotel for the expropriation will be lower now that the TSJC has invalidated the license granted by the Yaiza City Council that allowed its construction. According to Fernández, "obviously illegal buildings are much cheaper than legal ones", although there are still no concrete figures because Costas is processing the appraisal.
José Fernández has not given deadlines for the demolition because it is a "complex" process that involves a series of administrative procedures, although he has indicated that if there is an economic agreement with the owners "it can be demolished much faster". Otherwise, an expropriation court will determine the fair price to materialize the expropriation and demolition.
