This is the new trendy district of Palma de Mallorca

But as lively as the district is, it stands out big challenges. The proximity to the city center, the urban planning reform of Nuredunna Street and the modernization of Plaça de les Columnes have not only increased the quality of life, but also new problems brought with it. Gentrification and rising real estate prices are increasingly shaping the image of Pere Garau.

It was once a Working class and migrant neighborhoodsToday the original population is giving way to new immigrants with purchasing power, including more and more German and other foreign investorsacquire the real estate and change the cityscape. Long-established residents are being pushed out while new owners move into newly renovated apartments – a phenomenon that can be observed not only in Palma, but all over Mallorca.

Squatting: A serious problem

Another, completely different problem that concerns the district is: squatting. While some residents are forced to leave their homes due to rising rents, they are faced with vacant or illegally used properties. These changes have that once familiar face of Pere Garau radically changed.

But the neighborhood isn’t giving up without a fight. Citizens’ initiatives and street meetings are loudly demanding improvements in the educational infrastructure. A central requirement is this Construction of a secondary schoolas the existing schools only cover primary education. A success for the neighborhood was the recent opening of the Encarnació Viñas public library in Plaça Pere Garau. It is named after a respected teacher who shaped the district for years.

Another iconic location in the district, the former Metropolitan cinema, is also facing a rebirth. After years of dilapidation, the city administration planned to turn the abandoned building into a Urgently needed health center convert. This center is intended to replace the current one, which no longer meets the growing needs of the district.

Despite its difficulties, Pere Garau remains a well-connected district. Numerous city bus routes connect it with other parts of the city. Also the daily work of the city Cleaning services like Emaya is noticeable – especially around the Marketplace. But even this historic site has had to adapt to the pandemic. The usual mix of stalls offering food as well as clothing and household goods has changed. Many regular visitors from other parts of the city stay away because the offer is now spread over different days.

Youth avoid the event due to lack of space

Still, that remains Quarter on the move. The demands for more public spaces, green spaces and meeting places for the youth of the “barrio” are becoming louder and louder. The young people often go to the Parc de Ses Estacions, Palma’s train station park, because there is a lack of open space in Pere Garau itself. At the same time, the residents are fighting against the increasing vandalism and the neglect of street furniture – a problem widespread throughout Palma.

Conclusion: Pere Garau is a Neighborhood in transition – it reflects the social and urban development change that is taking place in… Palma and all over Mallorca is to be observed. What remains is the history and identity of this special place. People here value the district as one of the first connections between the center of Palma and the outskirts, but they also look to the future with concern. Will they manage to preserve the charm and diversity of Pere Garau, or will the pressures of gentrification finally change the soul of the neighborhood? Time will tell…