Plaça del Mercat: More space — but at what cost for residents and market traders?

Will the Plaça del Mercat become a place for people — or a long-term construction site?

The announcement sounds friendly: level access, a uniform paving, a more modern stormwater system, fewer trip hazards and fewer puddles after a summer thunderstorm. But the central question remains: will the redevelopment of the Plaça del Mercat and the adjacent Calle Unió really improve the daily lives of residents, market traders and regulars — or will it create new problems that are not being discussed enough today?

What the plans specifically promise

The plan foresees traffic calming with more space for pedestrians, additional seating and targeted greening. Work is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, last around 20 months and is budgeted at about €4.4 million. A small but symbolically important promise: the Bar Alaska will remain in its place — for many a small piece of everyday reassurance. An information source about the construction work can also be found on Mallorca Magic report on the 20-month renovation.

The less visible questions

The proposals look good on paper. In practice, however, some ideas risk failing on details. One example: flat, uniform paving surfaces look modern, but without a well-thought-out slope and sufficient retention volumes a new drainage system can also fail during heavy rain. Mallorca now experiences more intense downpours, as anyone who watches the old town from a window when the sky opens and the alleys turn into little rivers within minutes knows. More detailed reports on this topic can be found at MallorcaMagic.de report on merchants' warnings.

Then there is the question of financing beyond the construction phase. Nice granite slabs and planting need maintenance — regular cleaning, repairs, replacements due to wear. Are the allocated construction funds sufficient? Who will pay in five or ten years for the renewal of individual areas? Such follow-up costs often only become visible late and expensively.

And finally the reality of daily use: weekly markets with early deliveries, refrigerated trucks, deliveries for cafés and small shops — this cannot simply be ignored, as documented in Mallorca Magic coverage of merchants' concerns. A traffic-calmed square makes sense. The question is: are practical solutions proposed for delivery zones, time-limited access or temporary loading and unloading areas, or will traders be left to deal with the problems on their own?

Concrete proposals from the neighbourhood

From the perspective of local people, several pragmatic measures would significantly improve the redevelopment. These are not leaflet ideas, but everyday practices that make the difference between a pretty photo opportunity and a functioning square:

1. Phased construction planning according to market cycles: Major construction phases should be scheduled so they do not coincide with the busiest market days. Early in the morning, when delivery vans are humming and vendors are setting up their stalls, any closure is a problem.

2. Defined delivery windows and temporary loading zones: Instead of blanket driving bans, clear time windows for suppliers and modular loading zones that can be set up quickly when needed are required — pragmatic, not dogmatic.

3. Transparency about the money: A publicly accessible cost and maintenance plan that accounts for follow-up funding and regular upkeep would build trust. It’s not just the initial construction that counts, but what comes after.

4. Climate-resilient drainage: Permeable surfaces, rain cisterns or small green islands for temporary water storage can help prevent flooding — rather than just hiding fine grooves under the paving.

5. Preservation of the cityscape and accessibility: Reuse of old materials, plants that provide shade without overrunning façades, and tactile guidance strips for visually impaired people. This keeps the old town lively and inclusive.

City communication — often underestimated, but decisive

The city has announced information leaflets and a contact point. That is a start. Even more effective would be a digital construction portal: live plans of current closures, contact persons for traders, a hotline for urgent delivery cases and regular open site meetings for neighbours. Explaining the construction site to people reduces frustration — and prevents small problems from becoming major points of anger.

Risks and opportunities

The risks are obvious: cost overruns, extended construction times, accessibility problems for small shops. These disadvantages often hit those who have the least margin to absorb them — the market woman, the small café, the older neighbour who carries her shopping on foot.

The opportunities, on the other hand, are real: an accessible, clean square, fewer puddles after storms, comfortable seating and the preservation of local meeting points like the Bar Alaska. If the city creates reliable rules not only for the opening but also during the construction phase and for long-term maintenance, a place can emerge here that genuinely suits the old town. More information on similarly relevant projects like the Mercat de Llevant can be found on Mallorca Magic article on the Mercat de Llevant re-tendering.

My impression: The redevelopment has potential — provided planning meets practice. If the city takes into account the morning delivery noises, the murmur of market sellers and the clink of coffee cups in the Bar Alaska, the Plaça del Mercat will end up being more than just nice paving. If it ignores these everyday rhythms, a long-term construction site threatens to make life especially hard for the people who live and work here.