In 1985 a building (La Resina) along San Cristóbal that had been built in 1950 as a temporary mental asylum, was renovated and turned into a tourism complex, renamed Turismo Tropical.

At the very beginning of the 80s you could still walk from the mouth of Río Verde to the Chinasol building and find few other buildings in between; there was no Hotel Playa Almuñécar, no Edificio El Pirámide, no Hotel Helios, no Edifício Araucaria, and no Edifício Mariote.

Mayor Benavides was behind turning the 50s complex into a modern tourism complex in 1985 but Benny’s mayoralties were always plagued with run-ins with either the Junta or the Provincial Council… or both. The town experienced its greatest growth period under Benny but also the most headaches.

By 2014 the complex, which had enjoyed its heyday providing accommodation for pensioners from across the country attracted in the winter months to Almuñécar’s forgiving climate, was finally closed down owing to accumulating deficiencies and disputes with the Provincial Council.

Now, after a decade of being abandoned, the said council has decided that the best way to do something with the Turismo Tropical complex is to demolish it and start from scratch.

Both the Town Hall and the Provincial Council are run by the same political party, so cooperation between the two administrations is fluid and favourable for Almuñécar. The Vice Chairman of the Council, Nicolás Navarro, who is also a councillor for Motril Town Hall (or was) said, “A coastal, tourist town like Almuñécar can be allowed to have its installations in these conditions.” He could have added, “because it is governed by one of our mayors, otherwise…”

But enough cynicism and on with the facts! A budget of 300,000 euros has been set aside for the drawing up of a project and the demolition work but it can be increased as the plan is developed, which should be finalised ready for execution by the end of the year. As for construction work, a period of between 18 and 20 months is envisaged.

As for the total budget needed, it is liable to be over four-million euros and even as much as seven million.

(News/Noticias: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)