Led by Carlos Mazón, the Generalitat Valenciana plans to change how its Alicante buildings engage with the Botanical scene. In the closing months of Ximo Puig’s term, the presidency resided in the former post office in Gabriel Miró square, while the Ministry of Innovation had been based at the Witches House. The new plan flips this arrangement: the building on Avenida Doctor Gadea will house the presidential office, and the old Post Office building will host the macro department of the new Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism led by Nuria Montes.
This relocation is not a whim. One of the main reasons cited by the regional administration is that the ministry currently employs around eighty officials in Ciudad de la Luz. These staff must leave the cinema complex premises, and space constraints point to the vacant post office building after a century of use as the best option. Meanwhile, the decision also considers the appropriateness of the location for the president in Alicante and for the delegation headed by Consell delegate Agustina Esteve, along with the staff of the delegation and the Generalitat Prosecutor’s Office, finding that the facilities in Casa de las Brujas are adequate and sufficient.
Next steps
The roadmap for these movements centers on settling Nuria Montes and her closest team in the old Post Office building in a short timeframe. At the same time, the transfer of current officials has begun. The City of Light will need to adapt the new space that will be occupied. The Generalitat aims for these personnel to begin their new duties within two to three months, aligning with the early part of 2025. It should also be noted that portions of the Gabriel Miró building remain under construction and some installations, such as air conditioning, are not yet fully completed.
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This shift raises questions about whether the old Post Office building, now designated for the Ministry, will continue to host exhibitions and social events as Botànic intended when the dependencies were launched. Generalitat sources say the first step is a space availability study to determine how Montes’ department officials will be distributed. After that assessment, it will be clear if interior exhibitions can resume. Additionally, the daily presence of about eighty ministry officials is expected to help revitalize the central Gabriel Miró district.
Bet
During Puig’s final months, the Generalitat relocated the Presidency to the former Post Office building in Alicante, leaving Casa de las Brujas to later become the Presidency’s home under the Ministry of Innovation. This move aimed to renew citizen engagement and strengthen ties with the productive sector, as Puig noted at the inauguration. The decision also reflected a desire to decentralize institutions and promote both territorial cohesion and Alicante’s role in the regional landscape. Mazón’s plan diverges by keeping the Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism ministry in the Gabriel Miró square facilities, with Montes at the helm. One of its primary goals is to revise the tourist tax framework and to position Alicante as a hub of innovation and commerce that adapts to changing consumer patterns. The Casa de las Brujas will house the office of Mazón and Consell delegate Esteve, whose appointment was announced on 10 August.
It is worth recalling that the PP has requested contracts for the acquisition of Post Office properties in the region and with purchases in Valencia, Castellón and Elche, implying potential favorable treatment for the state entity. Other notes include Correos’ century-long history in the city center and the building’s reputation, with the area often referred to as the Plaza de Correos. Generalitat Valenciana’s purchase of the property took effect on January 30, prompting the postal company to relocate to Arquitecto Morell street. Before this purchase, the Consell had already secured another Post Office building in Valencia for a similar purpose. The Alicante building has remained well preserved since a renovation about a decade ago, supported by a multi-million euro investment. The 1916 structure was designed by the architect Luis Ferrero, contributing to the city’s architectural identity.