Javea Arenal For Sale

Javea Arenal, once described as the Jewel in the resort tourist crown with its blue flag beach, is in danger of plunging into a downward spiral of economic disaster. Many of the once bustling and fashionable array of shops whose windows displayed exciting and colourful ranges of merchandise, now reflect nothing but dark, dank, empty interiors displaying remnants of their past lives, such as the odd shoe, empty cosmetic standstill promising instant beauty, broken clothes hangers and the inevitable roughly discarded photographs of dream properties being offered for sale at knock-down prices. The only message now dominating the vast expanses of dirty glass is: Se Vende o Aquiler.

This disastrous situation is of course not exclusive to Javea. Most of Spain’s coastal towns are suffering similar problems with huge shop vacancy rates wiping millions of euros off property values and sending the unemployment rate sky high. However a Grapevine survey conducted amongst existing and former shop owners in the town, showed that whilst agreeing the problem is universal, most condemned greedy landlords for their total disregard of tenants survival needs. One irate shop owner said that, “Most of the landlords are so filthy rich, they would rather sit on empty premises rather than negotiate affordable rates in line with the current situation.” He added, “ Much of the property is owned by a small handful of connected local families, who made their millions during the heyday of the expat spending boom and are quite content to sit on their investments until the economic tides turns either for themselves or their heirs.”

So what are the town hall doing to help stabablize the situation? The answer nothing, just the opposite. They have ordered the demolition of the President bar terrace, reinforcing a disputed regulation dating back to the 1990 General Plan, part of a pet project of the then Partido Popular mayor Juan Moragues. The plan was abandoned as there was no legal agreement as to the exact lines between private and public ownership of the terraces. so Apart from high taxes and no government investment in the Arenal itself, the remaining bars are also threatened with demolition orders in the near future. This apparent blatant lack of concern is a direct snub to Arenal bar owners who have invested thousands in upgrading and modernising premises to international standards in order to maintain a viable all year round business. This of course provides much needed employment, as well as creating a valuable attraction for tourists and residents alike. As a point of interest, at least 35% of the businesses in the old town have also closed, many as a direct result of the catastrophic old town modernisation works and banned street parking in support of the white elephant underground car parks. Will the Arenal fight back? Inside sources confirm a definite YES

 
To access the March issue of the Javea Grapevine go to http://grapevinespain.com/javea_march_2010/index.html