The Council of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell has awarded at public auction the property popularly known as Capelletes building, the characteristic structure located at the entrance to the municipality, for an amount of 520,050.26 euros.
The building was acquired by the council in 2018 for 228,263.99 euros, with the aim of rehabilitating it and allocating it to municipal uses. That purchase took place at a time when the real estate market had not yet experienced the notable increase in prices recorded in recent years. With the current sale, the council has obtained a direct benefit of 291,786.27 euros, multiplying the value of the initial investment.
Over time, the needs of the municipality have evolved and so has the planning of municipal spaces and facilities. The Council has promoted a reorganisation of its public spaces that will soon allow different municipal offices to be housed in new facilities, such as the new municipal offices next to the Municipal Market. In addition, the council has enough space to respond to future needs without having to face the rehabilitation of Capelletes building.
In this context, maintaining this property for administrative use was no longer the most appropriate solution from a functional, technical or economic point of view. For this reason, the Council has decided to transform this asset into resources that will allow it to continue developing actions of general interest.
It should also be noted that the previous work of conditioning and emptying the structure did not involve any cost for the municipal coffers, since they were financed entirely through a subsidy from the Generalitat Valenciana.
Resources at the service of the municipality
The economic resources obtained from this operation will be incorporated into the municipal patrimony and will allow to finance, totally or partially, future actions of public interest adressed to continue improving municipal services, infrastructures and facilities.
The mayor, Miguel Ángel García, has pointed out that «the municipalities have the obligation to manage public assets always thinking about the general interest. This means knowing how to adapt decisions to the needs of each moment. When this property was acquired, there was a provision for public use that responded to the reality of that time. Today, these needs are covered thanks to the reorganisation of municipal spaces and, therefore, the most responsible thing to do is to transform this into resources that will allow us to continue improving our town.»
The mayor added that «good management of public assets does not consist of obtaining an economic benefit, but of converting municipal resources into new opportunities for citizens. The income from this operation will be invested in future projects and actions that will contribute to improving the quality of life of our neighbours.»
With this operation, the Council adapts its assets to the current needs of the municipality, avoids assuming a rehabilitation that was no longer justified and reinforces its ability to continue promoting projects at the service of the general interest. At the same time, an unfinished structure that for years has been part of the surroundings of the entrance to the municipality is put to an end, also contributing to the improvement of its urban image.