Andorra la Vella Awards €1.93M Contract to Convert Hotel into 18 Elderly Housing Units

Andorra la Vella council has awarded Pidasa a €1.93 million contract to overhaul the long-vacant former Hotel Jaume I into the Llar d’Andorra la Vella, featuring 18 units for elderly parishioners under the Reviu programme.

The 1,934,216.79 euro project includes nine studios and nine one-bedroom flats, each between 30 and 50 square metres, with adapted living spaces, kitchens and bathrooms. Communal areas will incorporate a laundry and storage, while one unit will fully accommodate reduced mobility needs. Work will address a complete interior refit, roof leak repairs and retention of the building’s structure and facade, with a 12-month completion timeline. The council’s 30-year lease on the site aims to reduce demand at the Calones residence.

Housing councillor Marc Torrent described the award as “a very important step” toward establishing dedicated elderly housing, emphasising a methodical strategy to secure properties ahead of need and build lasting public stock. The tender, finalised shortly after architectural plans were ready in June, remained close to its two-million-euro estimate.

Opposition Demòcrates members endorsed the initiative but lambasted Reviu’s progress. Miquel Canturri called it a “bluff”, noting full support for such efforts yet pointing out that, after two years and nine months of the mandate, no units had emerged. David Astrié raised concerns over potential overruns, suggesting the term could close without deliveries and proposing quicker options like Terra Vella, given the council’s €15 million-plus treasury reserves.