In a private meeting, the municipal executive assessed a set of proposals from the Urban Planning Councillor, Joana Almeida (independently elected by the “Novos Tempos” coalition - PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança) regarding the implementation of three new hotels in Lisbon.

The construction of a four-star tourist development on Rua Nova do Desterro, between numbers 14 and 22, in the parish of Arroios, was rejected with votes against from all opposition councillors - PS, PCP, Livre, BE and Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), a source from the municipality informed Lusa.

One of the approved proposals, with the abstention of the PS, is the alteration of the license of a subdivision in the parish of Belém, on Rua dos Cordoeiros a Pedrouços, to change its use from “housing to tourism” and to receive a three-star hotel establishment, as well as to increase the floor area - from 1,045 to 1,315.80 square meters (m2) - and to build two basement floors for parking and unit services.

“The remaining parameters of the initial subdivision will be maintained, namely the area of ​​the lot, the area of ​​the building's implementation, and the number of floors above ground”, reads the proposal, indicating that the change does not imply the carrying out of urbanization works beyond the creation of a promenade area and the repositioning of a drain.

With the same vote, the chamber approved the architectural project to alter the ongoing rehabilitation work on the former Hospital de Nossa Senhora do Desterro, formerly the Monastery of Nossa Senhora do Desterro, on Rua Nova do Desterro (numbers 6 to 12), in Arroios, with the planned uses of housing, tertiary (commerce) and tourism, including the construction of the Hotel da Olaria do Desterro.

“The building has a footprint of 5,720.90 m2 and a construction area of ​​15,870.00 m2 and is spread over six floors above the threshold level”, according to the proposal, which states that a floor area of ​​13,934.20 m2 is planned, of which 1,552.40 m2 are intended for residential use (special residence), 8,280.50 m2 for tertiary use and 4,101.30 m2 for tourist use.

Among the documents made viable is also a proposal from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, approved with votes in favor from PSD/CDS and PS, for the demolition of a set of pre-existing buildings at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, on Avenida de Berna, in the parish of Avenidas Novas, and their replacement with a new construction project.

According to the proposal, “the new building, with a footprint of 3,690.00 m2 and a construction area of ​​29,747.90 m2, will be developed over seven floors above the threshold level and three floors below the threshold level”, with a floor area of ​​18,677.90 m2 intended for residential and tertiary uses (commerce and/or services). The basement floors will be used for parking, with the creation of 174 private parking spaces and 93 public spaces.

Against all these proposals, the BE council criticised the leadership of Carlos Moedas (PSD) for “continuing with his plan for a city for tourists and the rich” and for being “the driving force behind speculation in the city”.

The BE criticised the fact that in addition to three new hotels, proposals for four new luxury condominiums were considered, and stated that the proposal from Universidade Nova aims to “add value to public property for its subsequent sale, contributing to real estate speculation and losing yet another opportunity for public housing at controlled prices”.

Citizens for Lisbon also lamented the priorities of the PSD and CDS, which govern without an absolute majority, for proposing three more hotels when what the city really needs “is affordable housing”.

The PS, which made the two new hotels possible by abstaining, justified its vote with the Municipal Master Plan (PDM), which requires the approval of projects “if all urban planning standards are complied with”.

On Tuesday, at the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, Carlos Moedas explained that the opening of new hotels in the city corresponds to respecting the PDM, because “there is an acquired right”, and suggested a review of the document.

The Lisbon executive, with 17 members, includes seven elected from the "Novos Tempos" coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança) - the only ones with assigned portfolios and who govern without a majority -, three from the PS, two from the PCP, three from Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), one from Livre and one from BE.