The demolition of Benidorm’s Gemelos 28 is scheduled for October 2029

October 2029 is when The Generalitat Valenciana is thinking of starting the destruction of Gemelos (Twins) 28 in Benidorm. The Judicial Commission, which is presided over by the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV), established this. How much the work will ultimately cost is yet uncertain.

The demolition of these two towers is part of the sentence that “continues its course within the Judicial Commission” established by the TSJCV’s Contentious-Administrative Chamber to carry out the decision, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water, Infrastructure, and Territory. Founded on November 8th, 2022, this body is still working to “identify and evaluate the impact on the more than 320 current owners” as well as “the concepts, amount, and manner in which they should be compensated.” According to Ministry officials, the destruction will begin in October 2029 according to the timeline set by the Judicial Commission.

According to this newspaper, the TSJCV ordered the demolition in November 2017 as part of a sentence that became final a year later. However, the structure is still standing after nearly seven years, and the residents—some of whom live in their homes year-round—continue to wait to hear the outcome of the judgement about their residences. The towers’ occupation of a maritime-terrestrial easement, or public domain, is the primary problem. But only for six meters. This suggests that it might be recreated six meters away after being destroyed.

The extension of the promenade or, most recently, the Congress of Deputies’ approval of a new transitional provision to the Coastal Law that permits the building to remain out of order for its entire useful life are two proposals that have been put forth to circumvent the rulings of the courts.

Accountability

Since the General Directorate of Coasts and Ports of the Ministry of Public Works, then led by the well-liked Rafael Blasco, gave the licence on April 29, 2005, the Generalitat was held accountable for the building’s illegality. There was no question once the TSJCV in 2017 clarified the Supreme Court’s 2012 decision. The order required the Valencian government to pay the purchase price plus an extra 20% to all the owners of the residences, parking lots, and common areas in addition to the demolition decree. Initially, it was thought to be worth more than 100 million euros.

The Valencian court at the time ruled that the building’s demolition was the legally mandated punishment for the cancellation of a licence that was given in breach of the Coastal Law’s provisions. In its clarification order, it stated that it was not “relevant” for its institution that it could be rebuilt, stating that “we consider that the natural and landscape values must prevail over an economic cost, even if it is high because it lacks sufficient legal force to invalidate the execution of a final judgement.”