In their different ways, all four adhere to a principle that was set out almost ten years ago. Antoni Noguera of Més became councillor for the 'model of the city' (he was later mayor for two years). It was he who spoke about the notion of opening the city to the sea, something that the ports authority embraced when agreeing to the redevelopment of the Paseo and which is inherent to its reorganisation plan, as is also the case at Club de Mar. Noguera promoted the idea of the GESA building area being open and of the creation of a digital innovation centre.
The Palacio de Congresos opened in April 2017, the first real physical evidence of a transformation process that will continue once the Paseo works come to an end. Much of the attention will now turn to the GESA building.
Noguera and the PSOE mayor, José Hila, were unable to realise their ambitions for the building. There were the seemingly endless negotiations with Endesa, while it was never clear what the town hall wanted to do with the building. Now in opposition, PSOE and Més are critical of the Partido Popular mayor, Jaime Martínez, for having gone ahead with the purchase of the building from Endesa for 30.5 million euros without a clear plan.
There has been much talk, as there has long been, the PP having raised the possibility of a contemporary art museum to make Palma a cultural reference point in the Mediterranean. When he was handed the keys on Monday, Martínez preferred to highlight in particular "the embryo of the innovation district".
A multipurpose building is envisaged. It will be the headquarters of the future innovation district and so it will act as a business incubator. It will house the Municipal Institute of the Arts, an auditorium, the new and large central library, and a citizen service office.
The work to the Paseo is now due to end in mid-April. Meanwhile, the ports authority intends investing 200 million euros on the integration of the port and the city. And 53 million euros have been spent on the Club de Mar. From the GESA building to Portopi, Palma's frontline is being transformed. The seafront, at least, will represent a city for the 21st century.
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There has been a lot written and talked about with regard to this piece of Palma and for sure something need´s to Happen with it for me it is a horrible piece of ARCHITECTURE and should be Blown up and removed all this talk about a cultural centre this is never going to work and will result in a Great Loss of any money invested in it Sorry regarding housing for poor people that is not the right place and would only result in creating a place for drug dealing prostitution and other Great bussiness´s , these high rise buildings are allway´s a disaster look anywhere Nyc ,Paris , Berlin , Palma is a a crossroad´s and needs to do some serious thinking before they proceed it´s a beautiful location but that HORRIBLE STRUKTURE needs to be destroyed .
Very positive development and Bulletin article :-)
Please forget cultural centres and think more about the poorer people and housing.