Albufeira Shopping Centre

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.

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?"

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.

   

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.