The city of Vila Nova de Famalicão entered yesterday in a new stage of its life. The inauguration of the new Famalicão Urban Centre, which took place this weekend, after the completion of one of the largest public investments ever, marks the introduction of a new urban paradigm in Famalicão, with a more people-friendly, environmentally friendly city, smooth mobility and proximity commerce.
"Enjoying the centre of Famalicão is now a completely different experience from the past, with more people, more comfort, more commerce and with constant dynamics that we will create", says the Mayor Mário Passos, speaking of a "new paradigm of modernity that compares Vila Nova de Famalicão to the great European cities". "Vila Nova de Famalicão now has a city that matches its dimension", added the mayor.
Arteries were closed to normal traffic, shared lanes were introduced, degraded areas were rehabilitated and a multifunctional space whose potential was clearly shown by the more than 10 thousand people who attended the concert of CALEMA on Saturday night, in the scope of the Inauguration Party.
Mário Passos thanked the "strategic vision" of the former Mayor Paulo Cunha, who launched the work, the tolerance of the traders, the resilience of the construction companies, the dedication of the municipality staff and CCDRN - Comissão de Coordenação de Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte for the approval of the application, in recognition of the importance of the intervention.
In total, the work meant an investment of 9.5 million euros, from an eligible amount of 6.7 million, which received co-financing of 3.9 through two applications co-financed by North 2020, through the European Regional Development Fund.
Present at the ceremony, the president of CCDRN, António Cunha, spoke of an "important investment for Famalicão and the region, an investment that makes sense because it gives quality of life to people and the city through the possibility of enjoyment of a better public space".
Paulo Cunha, who launched the work as mayor, spoke of "an intervention that exceeded the expectations of the project" and of a work "very well achieved, with guaranteed economic return".
The inauguration of the Urban Centre filled the weekend of celebration and not even the rain on Sunday disturbed the good atmosphere and mood of the famalicenses. It was a real test to the new space, with different atmospheric realities and different events. The rain on Sunday, now of the official inauguration "blessed the wedding", as Mário Passos said.
