Council plans to reopen ‘new Centro de Congressos de Lagoa’ in July 2025
The rundown Arade Congress Centre in Parchal – renamed as Centro de Congressos de Lagoa – is due to undergo a €1.6 million revamp with an eye on a July 2025 reopening after the infrastructure was purchased by the local council at the end of 2022.
The venue, abandoned for several years, became an undeniable white elephant for Lagoa and was subjected to acts of vandalism which the municipal council said it was powerless to stop as it did not yet own the building.
However, after negotiating the purchase of the building for €2.5 million, the council was able to complete the deal at the end of 2022, paving the way for the congress centre’s long-awaited renovation.
In a written response to the Resident, the council confirmed that “due to both material deterioration from simply being abandoned, as well due to vandalism, the building required a damage assessment when it was acquired by the municipality.” The damage assessment found that “approximately €1.6 million would be needed to rehabilitate the building and restore it to its intended functionality,” the council said.
While a public tender for the required renovation work was launched after the damage assessment, it failed to attract any bids, meaning a new tender will need to be launched.
“If this new tender is successfully awarded, as we hope, the renovation is expected to be completed by July 2025,” the council added.
The announcement marks the turning of a new page for the area, which is also due to welcome a new four-star hotel and an urban park currently under construction.
By MICHAEL BRUXO
michael.bruxo@portugalresident.com
