Under construction since 1882 with no end in sight, the Sagrada Familia’s prospects were already pretty bleak, so a $41 million fine is not going to make things easier for the basilica. Barcelona’s famously unfinished church is being hit with a multi-million dollar fine for lacking a valid building permit.
The fine will be paid to the city by the cathedral’s trustees, and will be reinvested into the city’s infrastructure. According to Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, $25 million will be earmarked for improving Barcelona’s public transportation; $8 million will be put toward improving metro system accessibility; $4.5 million for local street redevelopment; and $3.5 million for maintenance, cleaning, and security. While it might be a hefty chunk of change, the cathedral’s trustees can rest easy now, as they will finally receive a formal planning permit for the building.
