Lisbon City Council Pushes for Public Heritage Rehabilitation to Address Housing Crisis

In a move to tackle the housing shortage, the Lisbon City Council has approved a motion to mobilize the state's inactive heritage for housing purposes. The proposal, put forward by the PCP, was passed by a majority, with opposition from Carlos Moedas' leadership (PSD/CDS-PP), and support from all opposition councilors.

Key properties identified for potential rehabilitation include the former Presidency of the Council of Ministers building on Rua Professor Gomes Teixeira, now under the management of Estamo, a public company handling state properties. The PCP highlights that these buildings, due to their typology, location, and urban context, are suitable for conversion into housing, addressing the constitutional right to housing crisis.

Further proposals include rehabilitating the Ministry of Education's facilities on Avenida 24 de julho into university residences, given their proximity to public transport. The PCP also points out the potential of certain buildings to host cultural and sports associations, currently at risk due to rising rents and real estate speculation.

The PCP insists that inactive built heritage should not be seen merely as capital assets but as means to ensure rights to housing, cultural enjoyment, and equal opportunities in higher education access. They advocate for assessing the functional potential of these buildings to meet identified needs and reclaiming suitable state heritage from Estamo.

Additional measures proposed by the PCP include transferring rehabilitatable properties to the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) and launching rehabilitation operations for the buildings. Unanimously, the council also approved a request for the government to seek an extension for the PRR's execution deadline at the European Council, ensuring better use of available financial resources.