Residents of Embajadores are requesting the transfer of the former Military Pharmacy building for social use.

An entire block between Embajadores, Palos de la Frontera, Bernardino Obregón, and Sebastián Herrera streets houses what was once the Military Pharmacy. Since its inception in 1928, the complex belonged to the Ministry of Defense until 2015, when it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, specifically to the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (INAEM). Since then, this complex, consisting of nine brick buildings connected by a large courtyard, has remained closed or unused, with some spaces used solely for storage. The Ministry aims to convert the site into a cultural facility, but Embajadores residents fear that the plans will take time to materialize. Therefore, 30 civic organizations associated with the Neighborhood Pharmacy platform have developed a proposal they consider viable in the short term: they are requesting the transfer of one of the complex's buildings to convert it into a social and meeting center for the neighborhood.

The platform reports that, after meetings with the Ministry, they know that "a plan is being developed for the buildings in the complex," but that "because it is so large and some spaces are in such poor condition," they estimate that this project will take years and that the majority will be used for Inaem activities. Therefore, in the short term, they are demanding the transfer of the building that is "in the best condition" or that, at least, meets "basic habitability or is easy to repair to achieve them," and, in it, build "a social center promoting sociocultural activities self-managed by Farma Vecinal," as explained in an explanatory dossier sent to the Ministry of Culture.

Farma Vecinal assures that the Ministry is "facilitating and providing them with plans and all the information they need" to continue moving forward with their project and that they have visited the facilities twice, accompanied by representatives from the Ministry. However, during these visits, they saw two buildings in the complex that "were in a very deteriorated state," although they would like to return "to see more." The Ministry of Culture assures that they "want to give the building a new use" and that it has been under consideration for some time, but that "it is a complex and large project."

A building now... or the entire complex in the future

The Farma Vecinal movement began two years ago. However, calls to transform the complex have been ongoing since 2019. Initially, the residents' intention and request revolved around making the entire complex available to the neighborhood to create "a miniature slaughterhouse," explains the Embajadores Neighborhood Association. They do not rule out the possibility of this happening in the long term, given that it is a public property and is intended for general use or a public service. However, as they began meeting with Inaem and the Ministry of Culture, they realized that, "beyond administrative procedures to restore its use," the buildings "needed major renovations and repairs ." Therefore, the bulk of the protests are focused on "the immediate rehabilitation of the best-preserved space" for its transfer and commissioning.

Neighborhood mobilizations and more meetings after the summer

Residents explain that one of the greatest supporters of their cause is the Tobacco Factory collective, who successfully secured the continued use of the lower-level park for the neighborhood association while the renovation of the large building was underway. "What we're asking for here is similar, and they understand... We want to be able to combine them. We want to be able to use one of the buildings that has accessibility," continues Farma Vecinal. The most recent demonstration took place on June 6th on Embajadores Street.

That Sunday, residents turned the neighborhood street into an open-air social center with various activities to "draw attention to the abandoned building complex of the former Military Pharmacy," announced the poster posted in various spots throughout the neighborhood. In line with their intended use of the complex, they prepared a program with musical performances, circus workshops, awareness-raising activities, a book exchange, and children's games... "We know it's difficult, but we also think it's a fair request. And we feel we're on the right track," affirmed the neighborhood association. For now, they will wait until September to request another meeting with the Ministry of Culture and more visits to another of the ten buildings with Inaem to discuss the future of some of the buildings. And that, "sooner rather than later," it will reopen its doors.