In September, he will submit his proposals for the revitalization of Nicosia’s commercial center, Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Pruntzos told CNA. At the same time, he noted that efforts are underway to implement the City Council’s decision without putting taxpayers at risk of having to repay the funding provided for the project.
When asked to comment on a statement issued by the Joint Platform for the Revitalization of the Urban Commercial Core of Every City, in which it calls for the reopening of Makarios Avenue and the restoration of two-way traffic in its southern section, Mr. Pruntzos noted that this is “a discussion that is not taking place for the first time.”
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At the same time, he pointed out that the traffic regulations currently in effect for Makarios Avenue were decided by the previous City Council as part of the Makarios Avenue redevelopment project and were also established by the SustainableUrban Mobility Plan (SUMP).
The Mayor of Nicosia also noted that upon taking office, he had submitted a proposal to the City Council to amend the traffic regulations, adding that the majority of the City Council had amended that specific proposal.
“There is a City Council decision that we are trying to implement without creating a risk that taxpayers will have to repay the funding provided for the project, and that is where we stand now,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Charalambos Prountzos told CNA that in September, after the end of the summer season, he would submit a comprehensive package of proposals to accelerate the shopping center’s recovery. “The proposal concerns incentives and disincentives, as well as other actions in the area that will, in our view, improve commercial activity,” he said.
“There are already several positive developments, such as, for example, the relocation of two academic institutions to the historic center, which is expected to bring approximately 1,000 students by 2029, the vast majority of whom will live in the city center,” he noted.
““There are two hotel properties—one is nearly complete and the other is at a fairly advanced stage—which will be managed by a major local hotel group,”, he added.
“The bid for the retail spaces at the Old GSP was awarded on July 30, and we’re also seeing a series of other investments taking place in the city center. These are positive signs,” he emphasized, adding that “there is a City Council decision—which clearly concerns the traffic aspect—that we are working to implement.” “Work is already underway regarding the funding aspect from the European Union,” he said.
When asked by CNA to comment on the announcement by the Joint Platform for the Revitalization of the Urban Commercial Core of Every City, the Mayor of Nicosia stated that “a discussion accompanied by parallel announcements is not helpful.”
“We are discussing several issues with the Platform related to the revitalization of the historic center and traffic regulations on Makarios Avenue, so their views are respected,” he noted.
“Beyond that, there is a City Council decision, which we are working to implement, and at the same time, we are working to prevent any risk that taxpayers might be required to pay any costs associated with recovering funding from the European Union,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
