Independent Expert Appraisal Sought for Valencia Building Fire Damage
The owners’ association of the Campanar district building that caught fire will hire an independent expert, unaffiliated with the building’s insurer, to determine the full extent of the damage and then assess the estimated cost of rebuilding on the same site. The residents are organizing through messaging services and email and have received several proposals for the appraisal. In the coming days they will deliberate and reach a decision on which proposal to accept.
According to the building administrator speaking to this newspaper, two unanimous conclusions emerged from a February 24 meeting of affected residents. The first is the need to form a homeowners association, and the second is to hire an appraisal to gauge how far rebuilding the towers on Maestro Rodrigo Street at General Avilés Avenue might be possible.
“All attendees agreed to commission the independent technical review produced by Mapfre for the building or for each homeowners policyholder. To hire that appraisal, we need to raise funds,” explained the building administrator who also owns a home in the block. “What matters to us is reconstructing the building, restoring our surroundings, and rebuilding our neighborhood.”
The idea may sound far fetched, and some owners questioned the feasibility of reconstruction. Yet the current administrator remains cautious, urging patience and allowing the engineers they have chosen to do their work. “We need to know the extent of the damage and the cost to rebuild. We must determine if the current state is safe. We have a skeleton left; that is all,” she lamented.
She also used the moment of media attention to appeal for solidarity to spread beyond Campanar. “I am convinced a construction company in Spain would be willing to rebuild this building while complying with regulations and doing so properly. We will publicly recognize such a company if needed. The misfortune has happened; perhaps it will prompt better practices.”
Residents: The Homes Are Gone, Floors Bare
As confirmed to the press agency EFE by the outgoing president of the community, who had taken over before the disaster, firefighters and the Judicial Police have indicated that the interior of the property is destroyed to such an extent that the homes do not exist and are merely open spaces. The structure has endured extremely high temperatures and damage.
He noted that the documentation on hand does not explain the unusual way the building burned. There were highly flammable materials involved, which is not typical, he said, adding that residents are experiencing an emotional rollercoaster. For the moment, it remains unclear when experts will be allowed to enter the building for assessments.
Another resident told EFE on Sunday that entry to the building would be likely only after a formal declaration of ruin, either because reconstruction is impossible or because the repair costs exceed 50 percent of the building’s value excluding the land. The policy, as seen by EFE, estimates a value of 26.511 million euros for the property and terrain. If reconstruction costs exceed 13.2 million, a ruin declaration would extinguish the community. This is the current framework guiding decisions about the future of the property.
Speculation continues about whether the site can be restored and under what conditions, with the cost signal playing a critical role in any legal and financial conclusions. The path forward remains uncertain, but residents are actively evaluating options as they await technical input and regulatory decisions. The neighborhood watches and the wider public follow the unfolding situation with significant interest, hoping for a safe and compliant restoration that respects the community and the city’s standards.