IHRU approves the project of 298 apartments in Braga

A Câmara de Braga has a pre-approval of the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) for the construction of 298 apartments at controlled costs in the parish of Lamaçães, was announced today.

In statements to journalists at the end of the fortnightly executive meeting, Mayor João Rodrigues stressed that the next step is to “submit a serious candidacy” for the advancement of construction.

“There is a pre-approved application by the IHRU, which says that our project complies with the rules of the accessible lease and can therefore be submitted to an application process for building these 298 apartments,” the mayor explained.

João Rodrigues did not advance deadlines or investment value, but stressed that, in terms of housing, the municipality is not limited to those 298 apartments.

“ We are working much more than that,” he said.

The housing issue dominated today's meeting, with the opposition asking for, inter alia, the state of play regarding projects announced for the “Cock Zone”, Picoto and Mount St. Gregory.

João Rodrigues replied that everything is “to be treated”.

Still in the housing field, or lack of it, the movement Amar and Servir Braga questioned what intervention is being done with the homeless in the city.

The mayor replied that, at this moment, there will be accommodation in the city with the capacity to welcome all who sleep on the street.

The problem, he said, is that there are people whose option is to “stay in the public space” and in relation to these, often there are many difficulties to intervene”.

“In the limit, nothing can be done,” he said.

At the meeting, the question of the state of abandonment and degradation of the former convent of Carmo and the Recollection of Convertidas was also addressed by the Amar and Servir Braga movement.

João Rodrigues recalled that the old convent of Carmo is private property, but realized that there will be a promoter interested in the rehabilitation of the building.

On the other hand, he stressed that the Recollection of Converts is also not the responsibility of the municipality, and still belongs to the central state.

“ But we want to keep that building with so much history”, he said, remembering that the transfer of property is being discussed “for more than 20 years”.