He told the Lusa press agency, "The predicted population
for the new area is 8,573 people, while in the city
there are currently 5,000 permanent residents".
Mayor Emidio also affirmed the urbanization project,
which will soon be released for public debate, should be
completed and approved during the first half of 2008.
"Towards the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009,
the main avenue, which is the spine of the new project,
should be complete", he said, sustaining that the
municipality's objective with this new expansion "is not
to increase the population or to create so-called
‘second-homes', but "to create a new philosophy of
city".
However, Seruca Emidio did emphasise that the new
development alone would not be enough to rid Quarteira
of its traditional image of being one of the Algarve's
‘less noble' areas, though improvement works will be
carried out around the city.
Said to measure some 76 hectares, the project for the
city's expansion is based on a large urban park,
complete with a few hotels and lots of residential
homes. It was created to replace two separate projects
that were rejected by the Regional Algarve Coordination
Committee (CCR) in the 1990's.
As well as targeting and retaining the middle class
population, the architects responsible for the project
intend to integrate equipment of collective use, to make
the new area ‘alive and dynamic', as well as boosting
local commerce.
There will be a games area, a low-maintenance sports
track, three small playing fields, and a pavilion for
sports and cultural events. Architect Cesário Moreira,
author of the project, has described his vision as
"emblematic, extensive, and unique", stressing the need
for an urban park, which will be "right in the heart" of
the new expansion.
A primary school, a secondary school, kindergartens,
a new GNR police station, a crèche, a day-centre and a
meeting place for the elderly are all planned to
comprise the development.