Albufeira’s mayor, Carlos Silva e Sousa, is delighted, as will be the local population, that the city's abandoned courthouse is to be turned into an arts and crafts centre.
The building was constructed in the late 1800s and served as a courthouse until 1992 when Albufeira's Palace of Justice opened next to the Town Hall.
According to the municipality, the refurbishment of the old court house is included in the Urban Regeneration Action Plan (PARU) for Albufeira.
The budgeted cost is €600,000 but 65% will be reimbursed by the European Regional Development Fund.
"This is an emblematic space for all of us. It was the Tribunal for Albufeira over many years and this is a way to open it again to all, emphasising memories plus crafts and leisure. I am very pleased to know that soon we will no longer see this building in its current state of degradation, which makes us all sad," said Silva e Sousa, brushing away a tear.
The new arts and crafts centre will have room for an exhibition space, a training area and a shop. It is not yet clear how much of the original building will be incorporated in the new design.
Other projects totaling €1.4 million have been proposed by the council, all of which are under the PARU plan and therefore attract ERDF grants. This means local ratepayers will only have to fund €490,000 for the cost of the rehabilitation of Praça da República, the placement of some new museum pieces, renovation work at Albufeira’s main church and the transformation of the old courthouse.
