–The foundation’s work spans more than half a century. What have we been doing all this time?
-It was 1968 when Vimpyca was created. Since then, some 6,500 homes have been delivered in Andalusia, which is our area of action, around half of which are located in Córdoba. They are all officially protected housing (VPO), in particular the special diet which is less expensive. Our mission has always been to facilitate access to an apartment for families who have less purchasing power, which is why we have always sought the lowest price for them.
-What developments do you currently have under construction and/or for sale in Cordoba?
-At the global level, there are already buildings for sale, even if there are few left, a total of 375 homes. In Cordoba we are in the first phase of promotion Almunia Gardenscomposed of 131 housing units in the Huerta Santa Isabel Este district. The three joint phases total 380 properties. We also work in the city of Seville, in Mairena del Aljarafe (Seville) and in Granada. This year we want to start construction of the second phase of Los Jardines de la Almunia and our intention is that the third begins construction in 2025. In the case of Granada, we want to lay the first stone of a building with 48 housing units and another with 180. while in Malaga we will begin construction of the first phase of a residential complex of 111 properties, consisting entirely of approximately 470 apartments.
-What time frame do you have for completing the work on the first phase of Los Jardines de la Almunia?
-Construction began in the spring and we expect delivery to take place in the second half of 2026. We hope to have the second phase before the end of this year and, if sales go well, the third phase would be delivered during the summer 2026. 2027. .
-In the spring, urbanization works began in the Huerta Santa Isabel Este area. What plans do you have for this place?
-In this sector, almost 40 percent of the land, which largely belongs to the Andalusian Housing and Rehabilitation Agency (AVRA) and the Cordoba Town Hallis reserved for OPVs. In this area, we will have around 500 housing units to develop. I estimate that by 2026 or 2027 we could start the first works, so that the apartments can be delivered in 2028 or 2029.
–In what other areas of Córdoba are you working in the short, medium and long term?
-We are starting the sectorization plan of the O-1 Sectorization Plan of the North-South Airport Highway, on the other side of the Ronda de Poniente, so we have not quantified the number of apartments that will be put on sale. We are also developing the Partial Plan O-2, which includes the soils of San Rafael de la Albaida at the Castle of la Albaida and we estimate that we will build around 300 housing units, and we are present in the O-8 Partial Plan, popularly known as the Urende Airport Plan, where we plan to offer between 80 and 90 properties . We also have land in the city of Málaga, in Estepona (Málaga), in Utrera (Seville) and in Baena.
-This week the Directorate approved the permit for the construction of housing in the apse of the Church of Santa Marina. What plans do you have with this project?
-There are 16 rental housing units intended for people experiencing social exclusion. This is a very special project for us in which we collaborate with Cáritas and whose design began to coincide with our 50th anniversary. We want to start construction soon and hope to finish it within a year.
-Is all this supply able to satisfy the demand for housing in Córdoba?
-This is our intention. We wish to put on sale all the VPOs that our means, management, land and licenses allow us. In Córdoba we have more than 1,000 housing units and we develop the soil so that this does not stop.
-Is there a shortage of land in Córdoba?
-Today, maybe not. However, it is true that most of the sectors envisaged by the current PGOU are currently being implemented, so some thought should be given. Indeed, the Department of Urban Planning has already announced the start of the preparation of the PGOM, which is supposed to rehabilitate and allocate us a little more land to be able to continue to offer housing.
-Should we extend the Vimpyca philosophy to respond to the problems of access to housing that many young people currently encounter?
-We try to respond to everyone who asks us and provide them with solutions. We are quite flexible in our payment methods. After the 2008 crisis, we designed the rental system with purchase option, very widespread today, so that the entire money paid by the customer for the rental is deducted from the final sale price after 3 or 5 years.
-Historically, developers and construction companies complain about the slowness of planning management when it comes to managing licenses and permits. How can these procedures be improved?
-It must be recognized that management is doing everything it can. It is an endemic disease which spreads in all cities due to the functioning mastodon of these organizations. We would all like to get the licenses as soon as possible. It is true that the deadlines could be shorter, but we have no choice but to adapt.
