“The prices are absurd. Almost no there is houses to prices affordable not market“. The reference could be about one of the great cities of Portugal, but it comes from the local inhabitants of Melides.
In recent years, the region, 90 minutes south of Lisbon, has been inundated by a flood of new real estate projects, beach clubs, golf courses and campsites – but at luxury prices. They call it the “rich man’s playground.” The coastal area, once isolated and one of last excerpts almost untouched from the coast atlantic em Portugal has seen several projects born: one community residential of luxury property do tycoon do sector real estate americano Mike Meldman or the “resort” by Spanish billionaire Sandra Ortega, daughter of the founder of Inditex.
But it’s not just foreigners who invest millions in the area. Among the national projects are the club of praia JNcWHAT, close from the village and Comporta, by businesswoman Paula Amorim, and the buildings of real estate Vanguard Properties, whose investment will reach more of a thousand million of euros, also in the area of It entails (including two fields of gulf).
Among the tycoons who decided to invest in Melides is the owner of red-soled shoes, Christian Louboutin. However, investment in detached housing in the region has been going on for almost two decades. The explosion of tourist and luxury developments in Melides raises alarm bells among local residents, who are concerned about the environmental impact and “excess tourism”.
“Os tourists he comes here for the beauty of this place“, these the French designer, in an interview with Bloomberg. “By that, we have of or to maintain like this“, he added.
The truth is that the municipality and the surrounding area benefit of money and of jobs, according to president of the city council of Grândola, António Mendes, who guaranteed the news agency to counter the trend of price escalation. The municipality wants to ban development along the coast and reduce the number of tourist beds already approved by 40%.
However, the abrupt change in Melides’ lifestyle appears to be increasing inequality of access and resources according to complaints from residents heard by Bloomberg.
Loubotin, who owns a small hotel in Melides, says he is not opposed to luxury tourism in the town with 1,500 inhabitants. However, it wants more responsible management and protection of the environment by tourists and companies that have invested there, integrating a local group that works in this direction – Iintertidal Melides.
In June this year, Negócios went to learn more about this project with Noemi Marone Cinzano, who shares the role of founder with the luxury designer. Both have drawn up a sustainable plan to guarantee the survival of the Melides lagoon – which they call the “endiabrada dam”. They managed to change the habits and working methods of farmers in the region and attract the attention of celebrities to the project.
“People are touched by authenticity and we have to keep it that way,” Louboutin told Bloomberg. “Don’t expect Melides become a St. Tropez. It won’t to happen.”
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
