Small businesses in Palma need ample parking at the port to compete with department stores. In this way, the Federation of Commercial Entrepreneurs (AFEDECO) expressed its position regarding the project of reorganization of the port of the capital of the Balearic Islands, establishing clear conditions for giving your consent to the plan.
Firstly, employers in the commercial sector emphasize that it is a priority to avoid the creation of new commercial developments in the port area, because “the port must integrate into the city without competing with it”.
AFEDECO emphasizes that Palma already has a large shopping center which offers sufficient and varied offertherefore “any new commercial infrastructure in the port would be unnecessary and could represent a relative worsening of existing trade”. It’s because the port is exempt from regional legislation in matters of open on Sundays and public holidayswhich would have a negative impact on local businesses.
For the employers’ association, the project represents a key opportunity to resolve current problems and improve commercial life in the city center, always taking into account the interests of citizens and respecting the unique character of Palma.
One of its priority proposals is the construction of a large parking lot in the port areawhich would solve the parking deficit and would facilitate the connection of the port with the centerin addition to being strategically located near the Andratx and Llucmajor highways.
Another fundamental point is the burial of Avenue Gabriel Roca and Avenue Antoni Maura, a measure which, according to the association, would transform connectivity between the port and the city, improving both tourist attraction and local commercial activity. This project would allow the creation of vast pedestrian spaces, cycle paths and green spaces this would improve the quality of life of citizens.
Concerning the use of the spaces provided, AFEDECO suggests creation of a multi-purpose axis in existing buildingswith spaces intended for cultural, educational and conference events, complementing infrastructures such as the Auditorium and the Congress Center. It also proposes the authorization of a coworking space and other community spaces such as a library or a youth space, which promote the social and economic life of the neighborhood.
Joana Manresapresident of afedeco, specifies that “the proposals that we are putting forward aim to ensure that the project not only promotes the development of the port, but also the revitalization of local commerce and improvement of urban quality of Palma.
Last summer, the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) began a series of contacts with representatives of the port community and other social, institutional and economic agents in order to obtain maximum consensus on the reorganization of the port from Palma.
In this participatory process they are collect opinions and the specific requirements deemed appropriate for the development of a new proposal that adapts to the needs and expectations of all interest groups and that prioritizes the general interest.
This involves defining the uses, spaces and essential port activities, in addition to guaranteeing the supply of the population in a reorganization of the port space which aims to be fully compatible with economic, environmental and social sustainability.
After the APB Board of Directors abandoned the reorganization proposal approved in 2020, the Port of Palma now assumes the objective of push a new direction to guarantee maritime connectivity and the functioning of the logistics chain of the Balearic Islands.
Among other initiatives, it is proposed redistribute industrial zones boat repair and rebuild the seafront of Palma, give space to city-port integration projects that include initiatives such as creation of a municipal sailing schoolthe relocation of the building dedicated to nautical-fishing FP or the development of an interactive museum which also houses the fish market and the fishermen’s brotherhood.
