The Madrid City Council has provisionally suspended the demolition license for the buildings located on Cabestreros street, including the historic Senegalese restaurant Baobab, halting the planned demolition for now. The suspension comes after the complaint filed by the PSOE with the Prosecutor's Office, which sought to protect what they consider assets of heritage and urban value, potentially dating back to the 17th century.
Despite the complaint and the neighborhood mobilization, **part of the building's roof was destroyed during the early morning hours**, before authorities intervened to halt the workYesterday Almeida announced the halt of the demolition of the Cabestreros buildings, but today they continue to destroy them. We broke the news of the start of the works, today we break the news that the City Council's order is not being followed @MadridDecadente @giraldeo https://t.co/pOI6zRFUV3 https://t.co/cnvzUcmeym
Finally, the demolition has been halted by the police, who officially notified the suspension and stopped the works. Antonio Giraldo, spokesperson for Urbanism of the PSOE, who filed the complaint with the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Madrid, has personally involved himself to stop the works on this building of great historical value and has communicated this through his social networks:
Now it's official. The police are now notifying the suspension and halting the demolition. I've been in contact with the delegate since this morning. The owner had not notified the company that was carrying out the demolition. But it seems like it's done now. It was a struggle, my goodness. pic.twitter.com/lIG42GJaCEThe mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, explained that the properties **do not have urban planning protection in the General Plan**, but that the suspension remains **pending the Directorate General of Historical Heritage of the Community of Madrid issuing its opinion** on their possible protection. The future of the building, linked to a **mega-capsule hostel project** that would have a capacity for 288 people, will have to wait for the discussion on the conservation of uncatalogued heritage and the traditional urban fabric of Lavapiés.