Orihuela Costa, July 11 — The Residents Association, Unidos por la Costa, is reporting that the long-awaited reopening of the Aguamarina seafront promenade faces further delays after residents affected by the property expropriation refused to sign the official occupation act on Friday morning.
At a meeting held at the Orihuela Costa Town Hall, residents of the Bellavista II Residential complex, whose properties were expropriated for the public promenade project, were summoned to receive compensation payments totalling €26,180. This figure was established by the Alicante Provincial Jury as fair market value for the properties involved.
The signing of the occupation act, which legally acknowledges the transfer of ownership to the municipality, was a necessary condition to proceed with demolition and redevelopment works. However, the affected residents declined to sign, halting the process.
In response, the City Council announced it will deposit the compensation funds into the General Deposit Fund (Caja General de Depósitos) until the matter is resolved. As confirmed by the Councilor for Heritage during the Municipal Council meeting on May 29, the next step involves seeking judicial authorization from the relevant court to proceed with demolition and ultimately reopen the promenade.
The Aguamarina promenade is a key development aimed at revitalizing Orihuela Costa’s coastline by providing improved public access, leisure areas, and scenic coastal walks. However, such urban redevelopment projects often encounter delays due to legal challenges surrounding property expropriation—a process that requires fair compensation and agreement from affected homeowners.
At this time, the timeline for judicial approval remains uncertain, casting doubt on when the public will be able to enjoy the revamped seafront.
