ATHENS – A Greek-led international consortium wants to start developing an 8-billion euro ($9.52 billion) project on the site of the old Hellenikon International Airport but is continuing to run into roadblocks from the Radical Left SYRIZA-led coalition, some of whose members don’t want any foreign investors in the country at the same time Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is trying to woo them.
Athens-based Lamda Development is the lead partner with the Chinese giant Fosum and an Abu Dubai company who have been frustrated for years in their plans to turn the abandoned site into one of the biggest developments in Europe after Greece’s economic crisis led for the original idea of creating the largest urban park in the region to be set aside.
In a statement, Lamda CEO Odysseas Athanasiou said: “We’re ready to begin the emblematic Helleniko project, which will significantly contribute to the country’s growth, further transforming it into a destination for investments, tourism and culture, and creating tens of thousands of new jobs immediately,” although the government won’t allow it yet.
His company built the unlawful Athens Mall, the most successful in the country but besides opposition from SYRIZA dissidents, the country’s Archaeological Council (KAS) declared 30 hectares (74.13 acres) of the property off limits and said planned skyscrapers would be too high.
Culture Minister Lidia Koniordou, a theater actress, said KAS was making recommendations the government didn’t have to accept and that she has the final jurisdiction over the height of structures. The developers said most of the licenses required to begin are being held back so they can’t start even though they’re ready.
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Source: thenationalherald.com
