by Staff Reporter
THE Palma city council is studying the possibility of moving city hall from its historical building in the Plaza Cort to the Polígono de Levante, which it wants to upgrade, and where a large part of the city's administrative service can already be found.
Rodrigo de Santos, the councillor in charge of planning, said that the proposal was being studied as part of a project aimed at improving the Polígono de Levante, which is where the trades fair complex is and where it is proposed to build the congress hall complex.
The project also includes the construction of a major civic centre, the regional government's public works and environment ministries and a green zone.
The councillor said that a public debate would be opened, in which all citizen associations would be invited to take part.
The new city hall would be built on the 40'000 square metres plot which was to have been used for a new trades fair precinct.
The modern building, equipped with the latest technology, would be the heart of the Palma city council, de Santos said, as it would house all the administrative services of the municipality.
He said that the services provided by the council would be improved and the district would be revitalised, because other services would be built up around it.
But the building in the Plaza Cort would continue to be the historical seat of the Palma city council. The Mayor's office would remain there, and also the services for what will be one of the new districts into which the city will be divided.
De Santos stressed, however, that this project, which at the moment is just a proposal, does not rule out the possibility of building other amenities in the Polígono.
Other measures to improve the area, he said, would be a civic centre on a plot of 16'000 square metres, which would centralise all the youth club, socio-cultural and social service departments of the Polígono de Levante.
De Santos went on to explain that the council and the Balearic government are also analysing the possibility of moving the public works and environment ministries to an 11'000 square metre site in this area.
He pointed out that the development plans for the Polígono de Levante also include a green belt beside the ring road, thanks to a subsidy which has been requested from the National Parks Board.
De Santos said that all these amenities would help improve the Polígono de Levante, converting it into a residential area without a large number of subsidised flats but with a high number of public buildings.
The Plaza Cort in the square of the same name has been the seat of the city council and its predecessors since it was built in the 14th century.
It has been remodelled over the years, and the existing façade dates from the mid-17th century.
The Plaza Cort is the official centre of the city and is considered kilometre zero of the island.
De Santos also announced that changes to the special plan for Terreno had been approved and these will now be posted for public information for 30 days, during which time objections can be lodged.
The modifications include a civic centre in the former San Luis Gonzaga school, a health centre in Gomila, and sports facilities and parking spaces in S'Aigua Dolce.