The local government board of the Torrevieja City Council has approved the project to carry out the rehabilitation of the protected building of the Ice Factory on Calle Orihuela with Faleria (formerly Acarretos). The project will also include the adjacent plot of the former Gloria Cinema.

The General Urban Development Plan protects the Ice Factory building, which dates to the late 1920s. The municipal treasuries spent 900,000 euros to acquire the plot, which spans approximately 300 square meters. The initial price was 800,000 euros, but they later increased it by 100,000 euros.

Another 300 square metres of the adjacent property, which was recently converted into a parking lot for municipal employees, is situated between Orihuela and Salero streets. Previously, the Gloria cinema used it as a summer cinema. The City Council acquired it for €840,000 in early 2023.

The buildable area of 2,273 square metres is distributed over the ground floor and four floors in the unified design of both structures, which must at least match the appearance of the façade and roof of the current ice factory.

Invitation to tender

Federico Alarcón, the government spokesman, announced on Thursday that the works are anticipated to be awarded “in one or two weeks” after being placed out to tender. The final project’s scope and intended use have not been disclosed by the Popular Party governing team.

The mayor, Eduardo Dolón, has been advocating for the Ice Factory to serve as the new tourist office. This is due to the municipal plan to demolish the old Miramar building, which currently houses the tourist office, to utilise the basement as a parking lot and the upper deck as a viewing platform that provides a view of the bay, including the sport boat docks and the Eras de la Sal.

Redevelopment of the Salt Eras

The Ice Factory project is a component of a broader redevelopment and rehabilitation initiative that encompasses the entire region encircling the Eras de la Sal, the industrial heritage site that established the city and its salt mines. Initially revealed in February 2021, the initiative remains unfinished. In various phases, the project is currently only in the process of draughting and conducting archaeological investigations.

The project encompasses the restoration of the salt mines’ administrative structure, the original walls and paving of the site, which date back to the mid-18th century, and the trestle that was reconstructed in the late 1990s. The proposal also encompasses the construction of the Sea and Salt Museum on the slope of the Upper Era, as well as the construction of an open-air auditorium on the surface that is currently occupied by the Marina Internacional dry dock.

Among other projects, the initiative is complemented by the redevelopment of Faleria Avenue, the current Maestro Velero promenade, and a portion of the Vista Alegre promenade, as well as a verdant area over the future museum.

Remains of archaeological significance

The City Council commissioned an archaeological investigation of the subsoil of the Ice Factory in the event that it uncovered any intriguing remains, such as the fort and watchtower that gave the city its name. Arpa Patrimonio, the corporation that the municipality directly commissioned for these excavations under a minor contract, reported the discovery of no significant remains. The team of specialists in the region did, however, identify that the building’s distinctive wooden roof is in a state of disrepair and has collapsed in certain regions.

Thirty-one million euros

All of these projects, which are collectively valued at €31 million, are currently on pause due to the necessity of obtaining a public domain concession from the Generalitat Valenciana (Generalitat Valenciana), the administration responsible for the port’s public domain. The City Council’s formal request for this concession has made it accessible to the public. This is an exception to the Ice Factory, which is not under the jurisdiction of the Consell.

Therefore, they are commencing immediately. Because the Municipal Theatre has hosted the International Habanera and Polyphony Competition for the past three years, the municipality prioritised the construction of the auditorium in addition to renovating the ice factory. The theatre will also host this year’s competition at the end of July.

Additionally, the City Council anticipates receiving a portion of the ERDF funds, although funding is only partially guaranteed.