Alicante proposes placing terraces on the central promenade of the Gadea and Marvá axis

The new regulation for the occupation of public roads for the installation of terraces on Doctor Gadea, Federico Soto, and General Marvá avenues will allow terraces in the central boulevards of these promenades. With the summer 2023 works, Alicante breathed new life into a crucial axis for the city's central mobility. The expansion of sidewalks and pavement renewal has revitalised essential streets around one of the municipality's largest commercial hubs, Maisonnave.

However, with this regulatory change, the use of public space by terraces will be organised, also favouring their location in the promenade area, which could leave the sidewalks closest to the facades clearer. A change that will alter the Gadea-Marvá axis's appearance, presenting both advantages and disadvantages for business owners.

With the new arrangement, throughout the axis from the foot of Jorge Juan to Canalejas Avenue, establishments can request terraces in the park's central part with a maximum size of 14 metres by 1.80 metres wide. The text also foresees that if several establishments request this space, it will be distributed equitably according to the size of their facades.

Among the conditions that establishments must meet to request these spaces is having pedestrian crossings less than 25 metres from the establishment's entrance. The text also warns that waiters must cross the street through these pedestrian-designated areas and never through green areas or the flowerbed to access the terrace, otherwise it could result in the revocation of the terrace authorisation.

Thus, according to the arrangement, Doctor Gadea will have up to five different terrace areas, ranging from 10 metres long (in the block 3 area between Italia Street and Pintor Lorenzo Casanova) to 14 metres in the rest. In the Federico Soto area, there will be two terrace areas at the height of Colón Street, each 6 metres long. The same measurement applies to the two planned terrace areas for General Marvá, at the height of Maestro Marqués Street.

The ordinance also regulates the installation of terraces on sidewalks closest to the establishments' facades. In Marvá and Gadea, the surface will depend on the facade's width and cannot occupy more than 50% of the sidewalk's width. However, on Federico Soto Avenue, the regulation prohibits the installation of terraces due to high pedestrian density and the presence of bus stops in the area.

Elements such as installed benches, taxi and bus stops, and other elements like canopies or posts that may affect the available space for terraces in the sidewalk area near the facade will also be considered. Thus, while those with deterrent concrete blocks can place terraces next to this element, if there is a bench - visually similar but with a wooden backrest - they must respect the necessary space for people to sit on it.