The crumbling and derelict Lota de Portimão building just after the bridge into Portimão is to be fixed up and once again used.
Portimão council has awarded local company Urbicial (Construções e Engenharia Lda) the contract to fix up the eyesore in a €34,650 deal that will bring the building back to life.
The council’s idea is turn the building into a ‘multipurpose space’ but at least one with a restaurant rather than simply more gift shops.
Situated in a prime position overlooking the Arade river, just to the south of the road bridge as you enter the city from Parchal, the building was in a run-down state when it was eventually closed by the council and left to rot.
There has been no lack of interest from the private sector due to the building’s prime location but successive councils have failed to decide what to do with the building, so it has just been left to get worse.
The space is used now and then when there are events in the area and occasionally exhibitions have been hosted there but the state of the structure and decor has not been attractive to anyone looking for long-term use.
