Sintra Candidate Marco Almeida Announces Plan to Build More Homes and Rehabilitate Vacant Properties
Marco Almeida, a candidate for mayor of Sintra, has announced a housing policy centered on increasing the housing supply through new construction and the renovation of vacant buildings. In a public statement for his campaign, 'Sempre com os Sintrenses' (Always with the People of Sintra), Almeida declared his intention to 'build more houses, rehabilitate vacant properties, and encourage partnerships with housing cooperatives' to address the municipality's housing shortage.
The policy announcement directly confronts what Almeida describes as years of inaction, stating, 'Sintra cannot continue to waste time, as we all, unfortunately, recognize has happened in the last 12 years.' His proposal aims to bring a 'serious and determined change' to the municipality, which he claims has fallen behind neighboring councils like Cascais and Oeiras in terms of development and quality of life. The housing initiatives are a key part of his broader plan to 'restore dignity to our streets, confidence to our families, and a future to our municipality.'
The plan to construct new homes is a direct response to the high demand in the Lisbon metropolitan area. While specific targets for the number of new units were not provided in the statement, the commitment to increase construction signals a potential shift in municipal planning and development policy. This could open up new areas for residential projects and accelerate the approval process for developers looking to invest in the region.
A significant component of the housing strategy is the focus on rehabilitating 'imóveis devolutos,' or vacant properties. This measure is intended to make efficient use of the existing building stock and combat urban decay. For property investors, this could create opportunities in the renovation and resale market. The policy would likely involve municipal incentives or programs to encourage private owners to restore their derelict buildings, bringing them back into the residential or commercial market.
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Almeida also highlighted the role of housing cooperatives, pledging to 'incentivize parcerias' (encourage partnerships) with these entities. This approach suggests a move towards more diverse and community-focused housing solutions, which could lead to the development of more affordable and collaborative living projects. This model has been used successfully in other parts of Europe to address housing affordability and could represent a new segment of the market in Sintra.
The housing proposals were presented as part of a comprehensive plan for municipal improvement. Almeida also committed to reinforcing garbage collection, increasing the number of recycling containers, improving public lighting, and installing video surveillance cameras to enhance public safety. These quality-of-life issues are framed as being interconnected with the housing problem, contributing to the overall desirability of the municipality as a place to live.
The implementation of this ambitious housing agenda is contingent on the outcome of the municipal elections. If elected, Almeida's administration would be tasked with translating these campaign promises into concrete legislation and development projects, a process that would be closely monitored by residents, developers, and investors in the Portuguese real estate market.
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