Amadora Mayor Calls for Consensus on Cova da Moura Redevelopment
The mayor of Amadora, Vítor Ferreira, has addressed the complex issue of the Cova da Moura neighborhood, emphasizing the need for a negotiated, consensus-based solution for its future. In response to a proposal from political rival Suzana Garcia to demolish the neighborhood, Ferreira detailed the significant legal, social, and financial obstacles to such a plan, labeling the idea of a four-year eradication as “political demagoguery” and “completely impossible.”
Ferreira explained that the primary challenge lies in the fact that the land is privately owned. He stated that any path forward must involve comprehensive negotiations between the landowners, the neighborhood's approximately 7,000 residents, local community associations, and the central government. A unilateral municipal action is not feasible under the current legal framework.
The financial implications of a full-scale redevelopment are substantial. The mayor estimated that the total cost for demolition, the construction of new buildings and infrastructure, and the implementation of new equipment would amount to €175 million. He further noted that under the existing Municipal Master Plan (PDM), the number of new housing units that could be built would be insufficient to rehouse all the current residents, creating a significant social challenge.
Highlighting the difficulty in acquiring the land, Ferreira revealed that the municipality had previously entered into negotiations with the landowners. However, the talks reached an impasse due to a wide gap in valuation. The owners requested €14.7 million for the property, whereas the official valuation conducted by the city council placed the value at €9.2 million. “The City Council is not prepared for that,” Ferreira stated regarding the owners' asking price.
A (fictional) urban planning expert from the University of Lisbon might comment, "The situation in Cova da Moura is emblematic of the challenges of informal settlements across Europe. Mayor Ferreira’s emphasis on negotiation is critical. Successful regeneration projects require the active participation of the community and a fair settlement for property owners. A purely technical or political imposition is bound to fail." Mayor Ferreira assured that the Cova da Moura neighborhood is a priority for the municipality. He stated that once current interventions in other areas, such as the Estrada Militar da Damaia and Quinta da Laje, are concluded, the “main focus” of the city council will shift to finding a viable and agreed-upon solution for Cova da Moura.
The mayor also used the occasion of the municipality's 46th anniversary to praise Amadora's identity as a welcoming and multicultural city, home to 110 different nationalities. He positioned the careful handling of the Cova da Moura issue as part of this broader commitment to social integration.
In a related matter, Ferreira defended the recent demolition of seven illegal structures in the Santa Filomena neighborhood, explaining that the area had been officially eradicated years ago at great expense to taxpayers. He described the new structures as unacceptable “shacks” and stated the municipality could not permit the re-emergence of illegal construction in an area that had already been regularized.
The mayor's statements frame the Cova da Moura issue not as a simple problem of demolition, but as a long-term urban and social project requiring significant investment and the cooperation of all involved parties.
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