Torrevieja says new night/hippie huts will be 3.5 million euros

The construction and assembly of new booths for the Craft Market, which is popularly referred to as “the hippies,” to be relocated in the area of the Torrevieja port adjacent to the new recreational area, have been appraised by technicians from the Torrevieja City Council at 3,545,488 euros.

The investment, which includes VAT, is approximately €32,800 per unit and is expected to be finalised within 12 months of the contract’s signature. The Torrevieja City Council is providing complete coverage for the expense.

Modifications

The tender document, which this newspaper has reviewed, specifies the provision of 108 kiosks. Nevertheless, sources within the government team have indicated that the tender specifications are being altered, the technical conditions of the contract will be altered, and the number was increased yesterday, Thursday March 26th.

The contract specifies that the hippies will gradually return to the port area over the course of twelve months. No imminent action will be taken, as the tender has not yet been issued or awarded, and the technical specifications are currently being revised.

The total quantity

The ultimate number of booths to be installed has been reduced in comparison to the number that were in operation on the former Paseo de La Libertad, which was demolished during the redevelopment of the port area.

Approximately 25 of the nearly 190 wooden stalls that existed prior to their relocation to the provisional location on Avenida de La Estación were inactive.

Dialogue

Although the initial requests to the Generalitat (Valencian regional government) for concessions of the port area’s public domain specified the revenue from occupancy fees for these booths, setting their number at approximately one hundred, Mayor Eduardo Dolón assured during the 2023 municipal election campaign that the number of booths would not change substantially. The opposition cited this figure.

The booths have been designed in white and feature the Torrevieja City Council logo. Of course, they also have special LED illumination with interchangeable colours. They are built with cross-laminated timber and surface cladding, and they feature a rotating shutter that serves as a pergola-canopy.

There are two fundamental models that are accessible. The freestanding model is four meters in length, with the counter facing the public, and two metres in depth. Four-, three-, and two-station configurations are also accessible. The architecture firm DRM commissioned and executed the sales module design.

The booths are prefabricated metal structures that necessitate low-voltage electrical installation. Although the legal warranty period is three years, bidders have the option to extend it to 54 months in order to achieve a higher score in the purchasing process.

The location

The kiosks’ ultimate location has also been the subject of controversy for the past two years. Initially, it was proposed that they be distributed in three distinct groups: one around the Man of the Sea monument, one on the esplanade that was formerly the Paseo de la Libertad (Liberty Promenade), and another around the Customs building and the Mínguez pier. Subsequently, it was determined to consolidate them nearly entirely in the vicinity of the Customs building, adjacent to the access ramp of the new recreational centre.

The most recent proposal divides them once more into two distinct areas: the remaining space of the esplanade that is being constructed to accommodate the amusement park and the vicinity of the Customs building.

The ultimate location of the popular craft market and the total number of stalls are decisions that have been reached in recent months in collaboration with the vendors. Several alternatives have been considered.

Public price appreciation

The public price that businesses will pay the City Council for occupying public land cannot remain the same as it is currently due to this investment from this entity. Despite the fact that the City Council has not yet established the amount, it will increase significantly. This is due to the fact that the Generalitat (regional authority) must establish a fee that the City Council must pay for the use of the port area itself. The identity of this figure is uncertain. Additionally, there is no information regarding the concession period. It is 50 years in the case of the leisure facility, which is operated by a private concessionaire. The works that are presently being conducted in the port area are subject to partial permits, rather than a full concession.

Municipal Investment in the Port of Torrevieja

Main actions and implementation status

In order to prevent the distorting of the commercial quality of this activity, the City Council desires that the return of this commercial offering be restricted to the handcrafted products specified in the ordinance. This has occurred in recent years with the introduction of other products, including clothing, t-shirts, and tourist souvenirs.

At present, the wooden kiosks are situated in a temporary location along Avenida de la Estación. The vendors in this region earn substantially less than they did at their previous location on Paseo de La Libertad, which was demolished during the port’s redevelopment. The City Council anticipates their return in 2026, in conjunction with the funfair, which is marking its third season in Antonio Soria Park this summer. Only during the summer months and during events such as festivals does the fairground experience a consistent flow of patrons.

Agreement

Currently, the economic criterion is assigned 85 points in the evaluation of proposals from companies interested in participating in this tender, while the technical criterion is assigned 15 points. The contract is intended to be awarded through an open procedure with harmonised regulations and cannot be divided into lots, as justified in the tender specifications, to ensure the efficient coordination of the various professions involved.

Realised truths

Over the past six years, Mayor Eduardo Dolón has conducted numerous press conferences to provide a comprehensive explanation of the upcoming projects in the port area. Nevertheless, he ceased to do so after the contracts were awarded. The most recent press conference to provide the public with an explanation of the outcome was held in February 2024.

Subsequently, the methodology has been one of realisation. Residents of downtown Torrevieja and visitors have observed the demolition of the Paseo de La Libertad over the past two years of construction. In spite of the assurance, that the majority of the distinctive palm and ficus vegetation would be preserved, a significant amount was also removed. At present, the only remaining trees are a row of ficus trees and a few palm and pine trees. Despite the project’s primary objective of connecting the port and the city, the company that holds the leisure area concession, which was granted by the Generalitat (Valencian regional government), has raised its main buildings to a height equivalent to five stories. This has resulted in a new visual barrier between the bay and most of the city’s central streets, including Joaquín Chapaprieta and María Parodi.

Additionally, the manner in which the traffic connection between the roundabout that accesses the port and Juan Mateo Street will be resolved remains uncertain. The winning company has demolished the old tourism office and halted the construction, but the trees and palm trees in the public space have not been affected at this time.

The Mayor has responded to these criticisms regarding the lack of information by asserting that the governing team has indeed provided an explanation of the remodelling projects. However, they have not.