The severe financial crisis faced by the Narcís Serra council conditioned his government’s work. In the mayor’s own words, the first Barcelona City Council had to carry out a policy ‘of mending’, which meant, far from major public works, this term of office was characterised by small-scale interventions in the neighbourhoods. The idea was to do small public works operations that smartened up the city’s neighbourhoods.

Gràcia is the paradigmatic district of this initiative because it was during these years that the redevelopment of Gràcia’s squares was approved. Plaça de Trilla, Plaça del Raspall and Plaça de la Virreina were just some of them.

With regard to urban development, over the course of 1980, plans were also drawn up for pedestrianised areas, a resource for regulating and calming urban space to benefit the public. In March 1982, approval was granted for a pedestrianised area around La Llibertat Market in Gràcia, with regulated times and access restricted to stallholders.