On April 23rd, 2026, the Puebla Vieja Neighborhood Regeneration Office in Laredo hosted a major community event: an open discussion between the Mayor and local residents. Co-organized by the Ayuntamiento de Laredo and the REGEN project team, this assembly provided a space to directly address the future and improvement of the neighborhood.

Listening to Neighborhood priorities

Formatted as an open assembly discussion, the meeting aimed to address the main concerns raised by residents during the participatory process held in late 2025 as part of the REGEN project activities. The conversations focused on key everyday issues for the community:

• Accessibility across the urban space.
• Cleanliness of public areas.
• Safety within the neighborhood.
• Maintenance of infrastructure and urban features.

In response to these neighborhood requests, the Mayor made firm commitments to address several of the issues raised. Demonstrating a commitment to transparency and long-term progress, the Mayor also proposed a follow-up meeting in September to review the progress of the activities underway.

Strengthening citizen participation

Puebla Vieja residents turned out in active numbers to take part in the debates. This face-to-face meeting with the head of the local council was highly appreciated by the audience, who were glad to share their views directly and receive immediate feedback.

For the REGEN project, the success of this session successfully tests and validates the Neighborhood Regeneration Office (NRO) model. This space has firmly established itself as a vital meeting point where citizens can share their concerns to improve their neighborhood. This positive dynamic increases trust among residents, encouraging them to get actively involved in future activities organized by the NRO and the REGEN project.

Moving towards a more Inclusive neighborhood

Beyond the technical discussions, this event paved the way for new collaborations with a strong social impact. Contact was successfully resumed with a local entity that runs supported housing for people with cognitive disabilities in Puebla Vieja.

The next step? Conversations have already begun to organize dedicated workshops and activities. These sessions will be designed to gather their specific perspectives on accessibility and to collect their valuable feedback on the project’s digital tools, primarily the MUST application. This initiative ensures that the urban regeneration of Puebla Vieja leaves no one behind !