The President of the Guimarães City Council, Ricardo Araújo, marked the start of the work on Rua de São Pedro, in Azurém, a day he described as “particularly happy” following the approval of the Municipal Master Plan revision.
Ricardo Araújo highlighted the fulfillment of a promise to the citizens of Guimarães, prioritizing public housing and increasing the private market's supply. The development, with a total investment of approximately 10 million euros, benefits from about 7.5 million euros in funding through the 1.º Direito – Program to Support Access to Housing. The project covers around 8,700 square meters and includes T1 to T4 typologies.
The mayor emphasized the importance of execution, stating he wishes to be evaluated by the number of homes delivered to families in need, not just by the number of tenders launched. He argues that increasing housing supply is crucial for Guimarães' attractiveness, competitiveness, and talent retention.
Construction is being carried out by Grupo Casais, employing an industrialized construction system combining wood and concrete elements. The company's CEO, António Carlos Rodrigues, noted that the solution means “the building is born digital,” ensuring greater precision, reduced execution times, and element reusability, demonstrating that affordable housing can achieve high quality.
António Carlos Rodrigues also stressed the collaboration between the Municipality and the private sector, viewing investment in affordable housing as productive and essential for attracting and retaining companies and workers in the region. The ceremony was also attended by Councillor Constantino Veiga, the President of the Azurém Parish Council, Rui Machado, the President of CASFIG, Joana Xavier, and representatives from Grupo Casais.
This initiative marks a step in the municipal executive's strategy to place housing at the center of the quality of life and competitiveness of the municipality of Guimarães.
