For those of you who spend much time there, would you say this is over and above typical/pre-covid construction activity? 

I hope it helps to bring back tourists next year and allows businesses to reopen!

Certainly private housing development is back on a boom cycle, it did not even seem to be dampened by the Covid Pandemic.

As for Public funded construction and maintenance, there was a furlough scheme during the pandemic that would have meant the Camara would have to pay employees 30% salary to do nothing so they took the option of paying them 100% to keep working. They took advantage of the empty streets and lockdown to dig up vast chunks of the Old town and re-lay paving, some of it was connected to the ongoing drainage improvements which have been happening since the 2015 floods. I understand that the current penecco beach works have been scheduled for a while due to a borough engineers report on the cliffs and danger of their collapse.

Other than the bullring to shopping store conversion, I don't often see comments re improvements being made near Ouro strip area.  Last I was there, there were so many empty shops and restaurants north of descobrimentos, plus lots of empty, undeveloped fields.  Do you know if anything has been done in that area?  Or of any future plans?

The old bullring is still there. It was the car park that became a large new ALDI supermarket. There was talk of the bullring itself being converted into some kind of music or entertainment venue, but nothing has come of it.

There was also talk earlier this year of a major 'renovation' of the northern end of the 'strip' area. One issue is that likely uptake for new restaurants and bars is not good in these times of continuing uncertainty. The vacant land was earmarked for yet more luxury tourist apartments. Meanwhile the people who work in restaurants and bars cannot afford anywhere to live. But there is no money to be made money in social housing.

When you say the northern end of the 'strip', do you mean where the strip meets Descobrimentos or do you mean north of Descobrimentos?

It's been 10 years, maybe since financial crisis??, but I remember north of Descrobrimentos, up to Manel do Frangos (not sure if you know the restaurant?) was a busy, full area (although not to the same extent as the strip south of Descobrimentos).  I recall lots of restaurants, shops, etc.  Now, most have closed...  a few have survived and I've seen a few new ones make the attempt but many have gone.

There's a building behind/attached to Longo bar with a courtyard...  I remember that courtyard being full of restaurants/patios, children's play area, etc...  last time I was there, it was pretty deserted.  

It is very sad for the local population.

I'd thought the reno of the hotel at the top of that street would bring new life to that 'northern strip' but then they made it an all-inclusive hotel.  I don't understand why the city would allow that?  The demand for restaurants from hotel guests could have helped rebuild that area but not if it's an all-inclusive hotel.    I imagine the hotel pays sufficient taxes to have allowed it to be approved??

"When you say the northern end of the 'strip', do you mean where the strip meets Descobrimentos or do you mean north of Descobrimentos?"

North of Descombrimentos, up the hill towards the big Hotel Jupiter (formerly the Hotel Montechoro) is the area.

I don't think the city can prevent hotels from being all inclusive but most agree that it's bad for the area and bad for local businesses. Many holidaymakers whose priorities are cheap beer and to sit by a pool all day don't care that their money goes to faceless corporations based in other countries.

I have seen pictures of the newly renovated park towards Hotel Jupiter...  a small sign of good things to come for the area??

   

So presumably all the outlets on that -1 level including the food court must be relocating to level 1 which used to be Continente and the Sushi place. Would be interesting to understand the logic behind all that, seems a lot of hassle.

Worten are currently still outside in a tent.

Note to self: Pay Attention! 

The Worten tent has gone and they no longer have a presence nor is there any indication of one to come. A shop is being made ready for Vodafone and another for Multiopticas opticians. The dry cleaners and Well's are still operating from portakabins. Still a lot of work going on.

The basement level is a now huge area for drink, alcoholic and not, home stuff and DIY. Escalators to your right when you go inside.

There is a Parfois shop opening at basement level. The lifts look they have not been touched, so I suspect one of the most frustrating aspects of Albufeira Shopping (that the lifts all seem to operate independently, so you end up with three lifts stopping at the same floor for just one passenger) will not be solved. I hope I am wrong.