Mayor of Limassol: “Our aim is to become a modern Municipality”

The goal set by the Limassol Municipality as to becoming a modern Municipality and establishing Limassol as a city embracing growth, culture and social sensitivity has remained the same, stated the Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Nicos Nicolaides, during a press conference on the steps and measures implemented in 2018 and those planned for the three-year period between 2019 and 2021.

Recalling the recent vote in favour of the 2019 development budget, amounting to €48 million, the Mayor of Limassol said that “new projects are now being implemented on the basis of decisions that have been taken and that are now turning into important projects”.  

Moving on, the Mayor stressed that the cleanliness of the city is one of the Municipality’s top priorities and added that the Municipality is planning to take the cultural sector one step further, while promoting, at the same time, targeted social policy measures.

In particular, the Municipality has set ten policy and target pillars, which concern the modernization of the Municipality in general, the EU co-financed and urban projects, the development of neighbourhoods and other similar projects, as well as the Municipality’s policy regarding large-scale developments. Moreover, the Municipality aims at addressing daily issues (i.e. traffic congestion, cleanliness, marine pollution etc.), revamping the city’s landmarks, increasing its financial resources, implementing new cultural ideas, social actions and various other projects.  
 
With reference to the social policy issues, Nicos Nicolaides announced the proposal he submitted to the Minister of Interior in order to address the problem of the high cost of renting or buying a home in Limassol, by constructing a total of 520 apartments in three different plots of municipal land, two in Ayios Nicolaos area and one in Ayios Ioannis.

More specifically, as he stated, these three plots, of a total area of 31,081 square metres, have been hosting the well-known subsidized housing units, where dozens of low-income families were and still are housed, despite the fact that they were slated for demolition a number of years ago due to structural and other issues arising mainly from the fact that they were constructed in the 1940s. 
 
According to the Mayor of Limassol, these 520 apartments will be built and allocated to new couples and families, over the next 5 years, either for rent or for purchase, on the basis of income criteria, in a way to ensure the balanced composition of each block and avoid the ghettoisation of families in need.

According to Mr. Nicolaides, the total net area amounts to 41,725 square metres, while the incentive for social housing foreseeing an increase in the building coefficient by 25% has been taken into account. He proceeded to add that it is possible to build a number of housing units of different size combinations, such as 400 two-bedroom apartments (86m²) and 120 one-bedroom apartments (62m²).
 
He added that the Municipality will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Interior to discuss various alternative methods for the exploitation of municipal property, for which the Ministry of Interior should promote the relevant legislative framework, and expressed his gratefulness to the Ministry of Interior, Konstatinos Petrides, for supporting his proposal.
 
The social action of the Municipality includes the establishment of a Temporary Housing Centre for Homeless which will operate in the “Ayios Panteleimonas” Building Complex - a property belonging to the Municipality. If properly amended, the centre can accommodate up to 10 people (five women and five men) for a few days stay.  

“Despite manageable, we consider this to be a serious issue”, pointed out Nicos Nicolaides, noting that this centre will not aim at permanent and long-term housing but at an immediate, short-term care until a more permanent solution is found for each case by the competent services of the state.
 
Referring to large-scale developments and high-rise buildings, an issue troubling several Limassolians, the Mayor said that it is the Municipality’s goal to tackle this issue with seriousness and a balanced approach.

So far, two high-rise 18-storey buildings have been erected while a 36-storey building and a 16-storey building are under construction on the coastal road and on Archbishop III’ boulevard respectively. Five additional high-rise buildings have been granted a planning permit, while three more applications for building permits are under consideration.
 
He underlined that neither the Municipality of Limassol, nor any other municipality can suspend the submission of applications for such developments; since the state provides incentives and the existing legislation has to be followed.
 
"The Municipal Council is studying each case separately and we have asked as the mandate issued by the competent Minister in early 2019 to introduce compensatory measures including not just the creation of squares and public parking spaces, but also of cultural infrastructures for the city by developing companies undertaking those major projects, as well as social housing measures” he added.
 
When it comes to cleanliness, the Mayor stated that an appropriate increase in staff is necessary and that the Municipality is currently planning to recruit additional hourly employees,  improve the means employed (purchase of garbage trucks and street sweeper) and achieve more effective policing and enforcement of fines.
 
Moreover, he proceeded to add, the frequency of parks maintenance is increased (all parks are cleaned at least once a week), while new ways to tackle the problem of marine pollution, which now focuses on sailing boats realising mini cruises in the Limassol bay, are being considered.
 
Referring to the EU co-financed and urban projects, he said that the construction works of the co-financed projects in the western districts of Limassol proceed smoothly, the important project of the storm drainage system at Navarinou street is being promoted in collaboration with the SBLA, while in 2019, the implementation of the 1^st phase of the Restoration of the Historic Centre of Ayia Fyla is expected to start. Significant urban development projects are also being promoted, such as the 3^rd Phase of Ayias Fylaxeos street and the 2^nd Phase of the connection of the coastal front with Franklin Roosevelt Avenue.
 
In relation to the development of Limassol’s neighbourhoods, the Mayor said that within 2019, a number of actions will be implemented for the creation of two eco-friendly neighbourhoods in the areas of Ayios Spyridonas and Ayios Nicolaos. In addition to this, other projects will also be implemented, such as the local projects in the areas of Zakaki and Ayia Fyla, the construction of the “AETOS” stadium, the 1^st phase of the annex of the Municipal Library at the GEVO Warehouses, as well as the overall improvement of the Municipal Garden (revamp of the playground, replacement and new equipment at the Municipal Garden Theatre, study on the staffing, operation and revamp of the Zoo).
 
In order to increase its financial resources, the Limassol Municipality looks forward to the commercial development of the Enaerios parking area by implementing the BOT method, the creation of a fund for cultural activities and the street lighting conversion to LED.  
 
The suggestions for the improvement of the cultural events over the next three years include the enrichment of the “Grand Ballets” with the participation of Cypriot dancers, which has successfully taken place for the first time this year, the improvement of the Wine Festival and the Carnival, the study for the creation of a Carnival museum at the “Panos Solomonides” Cultural Centre, the revamping of the Municipal Art Gallery, the creation of a string orchestra,  an annual opera performance etc.
 
The Mayor of Limassol thanked the Municipal Council and the Municipality in general for their full cooperation and stated that “nothing can be achieved and nothing is achieved in the absence of collective work”.