From Ruin to Neighborhood: Andratx Plans 30 Affordable Apartments Near the Church

From Ruin to Neighborhood: Andratx Plans 30 Affordable Apartments Near the Church

On the small square, where in the mornings the church bells ring over the market and the scent of orange blossoms occasionally fills the street cafés, there had for years been an unfinished concrete block that gave every stroll through the village a somewhat gray weight. The building, which locals call s'Hort dels tarongers, is now set to begin a new chapter: the municipality has initiated the completion of a residential complex with 30 apartments to be offered at capped prices and primarily intended for people from Andratx.

This piece of the townscape has stood half-finished for more than two decades and is visible from many parts of the village. Originally the plot belonged to the parish; in the early 2000s a developer acquired the site and applied for a building permit for three residential blocks. After the subsequent economic crisis the project stalled, the construction company declared insolvency and the shell structure continued to deteriorate. A new owner has since taken over the site and submitted an application to finish the works.

Andratx is using a regional government regulation that allows buildings with expired permits to be completed and then used as price-regulated apartments. The municipality sees this as a pragmatic response to a pressing issue: for many locals, affordable housing is hardly available. The planned 30 units are intended largely for families and households from the town, with proof of long-term registration — ten years — forming part of the allocation criteria so that the offer truly benefits the local population.

In everyday life this means: no more monotonous shell at a central square, but lively windows, balconies and perhaps a small café downstairs where messy construction fences now stand. Such changes have a double effect in Mallorca: they not only improve the appearance, they also bring people back to the center, who work there, shop locally and strengthen social life, and municipal measures like Andratx creates 400 new parking spaces – who really benefits? can shape how people access the center.

The mayor of Andratx emphasizes that the project is deliberately aimed at resident-focused planning and that implementing the apartments is an opportunity to turn a previously unused, urbanistically disruptive site into housing for locals. It is a step that is being discussed in many municipalities on the island, as in Palma plans 3,500 apartments: Opportunity for Son Güells — or too much speed, too little planning?, reusing brownfield sites instead of sealing new land.

In practice there are still steps to take: permits must be formally completed, technical regulations complied with and consideration given to the historical surroundings — the parish church lies in immediate proximity. Even routine infrastructure works can be complex, as reported in Renovation in Port d'Andratx: Between Construction Site and Long-Term Security.

The neighborhood, which for a long time knew the sad reminder of a failed construction project, now hopes for less of a construction-ruin atmosphere and for apartments that give people rooted in Andratx good opportunities.

If you stroll through the plaça on a sunny morning, you hear traders talking, children quickly grabbing an ice cream, and occasionally a discussion about the future of the town. In these conversations lies the strength of such initiatives: small, central projects can change everyday life significantly. That a ruin will in future provide a roof over people's heads almost feels like a pragmatic form of town beautification — not just for tourist photos, but for those who live here.

Outlook: If implementation proceeds as planned, the project in Andratx could serve as an example for other places on the island that have similar half-finished buildings in historic centers. The combination of visible urban repair and targeted allocation to long-term residents is a form of local cohesion — and a pragmatic answer to the housing question that many Mallorcans face daily.

Why this is good for Mallorca

This project combines three things: it removes an urban scar, creates genuinely usable housing for locals and uses existing infrastructure instead of consuming new land. For a village like Andratx, which relies heavily on its atmosphere, this is more than a construction project — it is a return to the community.