The Socialist candidate for Mayor of Porto, Manuel Pizarro, pledged today to launch a housing program featuring moderate rent for the middle class and young people, with 5,000 homes spread throughout the city.
“Access to housing has become an emergency in Porto. The vast majority of young people and middle-class individuals do not have the income to afford housing costs, especially rental housing,” stated the candidate.
Speaking to journalists after a presentation attended by entrepreneurs and architects at the AICCOPN – Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industries, in Porto, Pizarro announced that if elected, he will sign a pact with all partners within the first 100 days of office, involving them with the goals of the program ‘Habitar no Porto’.
The houses, with types ranging from T0 to T4, will be built on land already “almost all identified,” notably at Monte da Bela and Monte Pedral. Both locations have projects that under the current city council were subject to tenders for similar purposes to those announced today but did not proceed.
The remaining identified locations are: Lordelo do Ouro, Avenida Nun’Álvares, Aldoar, Aleixo, Contumil, Corujeira, Dionísio Santos Silva, Prelada, Currais, Ouro, Boavista, Arca D’agua, and Augusto Lessa.
“We have land identified for about 4,200 of the 5,000 dwellings. And we have a set of dialogues with private owners that ensure us the necessary land for the entire program,” he assured.
Pizarro clarified that the program would follow a different concept from the usual affordable rent, which he called “moderate rent Porto style,” alluding to his campaign slogan.
“It’s a fixed amount. We’re not talking about social rent; we’re talking about rent for the middle class, for the young (…). They will have the annual updates due to inflation, of course, but only those,” he said.
According to the presentation distributed to journalists, the program includes building 500 T0 homes with a rent of 300 euros per month, 1,600 T1 units for 400 euros/month, 1,600 T2 houses for 550 euros/month, 1,000 T3 units for 700 euros/month, and 400 T4 for 800 euros/month.
Various tender models are on the table, ranging from Public-Private Partnership models to tenders aimed at cooperatives or protocols with third-sector institutions.
Pizarro expressed confidence that the central government would participate financially in this program but was clear on receiving a “no”: “Porto is in a position to finance this program. In that case, I will finance it by allocating 50% of the tourist tax and 20% of the IMT to the moderate-cost housing program.”
Regarding deadlines, he admitted that most of the houses would only be available by the end of his term.
Priority will be given to residents in Porto registered in the city for at least four consecutive years, as well as those born in Porto and who were registered in the city for at least four years and wish to return.
In a later phase, the candidacy plans to advance with a program dedicated to rehabilitating vacant houses to also place them in the rental market.
In a presentation that included former Porto City Councilor Ricardo Valente—who told journalists he was there due to his connection to a real estate consultancy and is open to attending other candidacy events related to housing and the economy but will not be part of lists—Pizarro downplayed any potential connection of Rui Moreira to the candidacy of Pedro Duarte (PSD, IL, CDS-PP), recalling that he served his first term in coalition with the current president.
“I recall that at the end of that term, between Rui Moreira’s list and my list, we elected 11 of the 13 city councilors, and I believe everyone has realized not only the large number of supporters but also of political members from the Rui Moreira Movement who are now part of my candidacy,” he said.
Running for the Porto City Council are Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro movement), Vitorino Silva (RIR), Aníbal Pinto (Nova Direita), Pedro Duarte for the coalition “O Porto Somos Nós” joining PSD, IL, CDS-PP, Sérgio Aires (BE), current vice-president Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto movement), António Araújo (Porto à Porto movement), Alexandre Guilherme Jorge (Volt), and Hélder Sousa (Livre).
