The chief executive of the Porto City Council unanimously approved this Monday the move to classify the Stop shopping center as a property of municipal interest, which by law implies the creation of a general protection zone 50 meters wide.
Approval for the commencement of the classification procedure presupposes, in accordance with the Basic Law on Cultural Heritage, the establishment of a general protection zone of 50 meters wide.
BE board member Maria Manuel Rola stated that the site’s classification could have been done “a long time ago” and stated that Stop is “in even more danger now than before the closure in July”, referring to the exit of several musicians in the space. some of which ended up due to the termination of contracts with the owners.
In response, the mayor, independent Rui Moreira, explained that the municipality could not proceed with property classification while the municipal services licensing project, which expired on August 31, was in development.
“It can’t be classified because it would make this licensing project impossible,” he said, stressing that the classification “protects what they said,” referring to real estate interests.
CDU councilor Ilda Figueiredo said every effort was needed to “protect the cultural wealth” that “Stop” is, admitting, however, that she was concerned that “this cultural wealth will be gradually destroyed with the departure of the musicians.”
Regarding the PSD, Councilor Mariana Machado emphasized that the classification “will allow us to protect the Stop.”
Socialist Party councilor Rosario Gamboa recalled that classification does not solve all the problems of the shopping center, arguing that it is necessary to “protect” those who work there and considering that “the only real solution that exists” at the moment is the Pires de Lima. School.
“This is not a choice for any project, it seems most likely to protect the interests of the people,” he said.
Regarding the Pires de Lima school, one of the alternatives proposed by the municipality to host musicians, the city planning adviser explained that the most serious pathologies of the building have been “resolved” and that the architectural survey was completed about 15 days ago.
“We are now developing a design for a rehearsal and recording space,” he said.
Regarding Pires de Lima, Rui Moreira explained that it will be necessary to launch a public tender for the management of this space, since the municipality does not have a “dominant position in the Association of Friends of the Colosseum”, the organization that was appointed from the beginning to lead the project.
In response to socialist Rosario Gamboa, BE councilor accused the PS of abandoning the Stop program.
“PS has already given up on Stop and that’s what I regret the most. According to the adviser, this classification will not be necessary because the solution is Pires de Lima. It is not surprising that the Minister of Culture did not intervene, he never took the classification seriously because PS/Porto itself did not take it seriously,” he criticized.
Saying she was “shocked” by BE’s statements, Councilwoman Rosario Gamboa said the party was preparing legislative changes so Stop and other first-generation malls could become viable.
The stop, which houses mostly rehearsal rooms and studios, closed most of its grounds on July 18, leaving nearly 500 artists and shop owners with nowhere to go, but reopened on Aug. 4 with a fire truck at the ready.
The stop will continue to operate indefinitely following a precautionary measure taken by the owners following the city council’s decision to close the building, Porto’s mayor confirmed on September 22.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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