Between the neighborhoods of Ergobia in Astigarraga and Martutene in Donostia-San Sebastián, the road of Okendotegi runs through the rear of the current road. What was once covered with large crops and vegetable gardens gradually became concrete. The works of the TAV have fully reached the periphery of the capital. But that's where people live.

Although there are signs of a palace in another time, in building No. 153 the ordinary citizen is living. There are pensioners, people with various disabilities, young couples, families, entrepreneurs… Now, Adif has expropriated them and they are about to knock down the house. Some of them have denounced this morning in the City Hall of Donostia-San Sebastian their situation, with the support of councillors from the municipal groups EH Bildu and Elkarrekin-Podemos.

Although it was initially thought that the works of the TAV would only take away the surrounding land, in October of last year, the Official Gazette of Spain learned that the project had been modified and that, therefore, his house was also in danger of rapid expropriation: “They didn’t send us a letter, we find it a disgrace, without formalism.”

 

 

 

 

"I'm alone and I can't walk."

From there, tours and turns have been carried out that resemble a crossing of roads to try to clarify their situation, both in the institutions and in Adif. Last October they met with the Mayor of Donostia-San Sebastian, Eneko Goia, and although he received them "with great welcome", they have not received any more news from them. Now, once the last procedure is completed, the building may be torn down within one month, if they so wish: "Soon we will not know where we are going to live."

They have reported that "ridiculous" prices have been imposed on housing, which in some cases amount to around EUR 80,000. Others have reformed the house from top to bottom and have to deal with 15-year-old mortgages, but they only get half of what they have paid for expropriating. With the amount offered, the neighbours of Okendotegi are clear that neither in Donostia-San Sebastián nor in Gipuzkoa will have the possibility of finding a new home. Today, a flat costs more than 5,200 euros a square meter in the capital and in one year the price has risen 25%, according to Etxebide.

“We owe nothing to anyone and they want to send us out of the house – they have denounced in the City Hall by friends and family. But with that money we cannot buy anything in San Sebastian. We are Donostiarras, but they send us from San Sebastian.” The building is already surrounded by fences and can only be accessed by a complicated pedestrian crossing.

In this situation, an elderly woman who becomes homeless exposes her case: "I'm alone, I had surgery and I put on the brushes and the sciatica. I need help to go to the doctor and the neighbors have to buy me. What I would like to see is an end to it.

Despite living on the periphery, as citizens ask for an answer from institutions and authorities nearby, and put on the table the claim: “We’re going to get rid of housing, and what we demand is housing.”

Video of the appearance: