Hacker News Reader

I've been trying for a few minutes to think of a way the city's position makes sense, but yes, as presented your explanation seems like the only viable one. A 130 year old building, which also happens to be the most famous monument in your city, would be grandfathered in in any other context.

It would be extremely interesting to read more about how this played out and why the basilica agreed to pay. Was there a lawsuit?

View on HN

Construction of the building started 130 years ago, but it's not done yet (and won't be done for the better part of a decade).

I guess this is the core of why there's no permit.

Typically a permit stipulates that a building should be finished within a certain time. It can probably be prolonged, but I think the project was in hiatus for a long time. Or a couple of times actually.

Yeah — there were a few wars, revolutions, and such in Spain in the 20th century.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com