The casino, the garbage and the bonuses to build higher floors have triggered a new round of anger between the neighboring municipalities of Alimos and Glyfada and the developers of the Hellinikon mega project in Athens Riviera.
The much anticipated and much troubled Hellinikon mega-investment project with luxury residences, casino, sky scrappers called “towers”, shopping malls, sports centers and a Metropolitan Park in Athens Riviera has triggered again a new “guerrilla war” with the Municipalities of Alimos and Glyfada against the backdrop of developments in the project.
News website thetoc.gr revealed that the major redevelopment of Hellinikon at the premises of the old airport of Athens progresses at a rapid pace, however, issues related to the change in the project’s physiognomy, the implementation of the New Building Regulations (NBR), the waste management and the construction permits for the casino are causing intense discomfort to the neighboring municipal authorities, who are denouncing a violation of the agreement and the environmental burden.
Mayor of Alimos Andreas Kondylis clarified to thetoc.gr,that the dispute with Lamda Development and the central administration has not ended.
He pointed out at the many developments that were included retrospectively within the framework of the NOK are favored with excessive building (floor) bonuses, overturning the limits set in the 2018 concession agreement. “We do not want anything more than what was agreed: according to the presidential decree and the environmental studies,” the mayor stated, hinting at “institutional favors” from the state towards the concessionaire.
The issue of waste management is also of particular concern. A law that has been put out for public consultation stipulated that the waste from the new area of Hellinikon will be transported outside the Metropolitan Park. This translates, according to the municipal authorities, into a “mandatory assumption” of management by the neighboring municipalities, whose infrastructure is already at its limits, the two municipality authorities said.
Correspondingly, the licensing of the casino continues to cause reactions. The Municipality of Alimos and the Municipality of Glyfada complained that the decisions on the project were taken in the absence of the municipalities adjacent to the investment, while they speak of an alteration of the original design.
Kondylis insisted that nothing was over. Although the Council of State ruled the NOK building bonuses unconstitutional, the government is coming back with a draft law that provides for environmental “equivalents”, that is, fines for those who enjoy the bonuses.
“Floor plans cannot be bought out. A high maintenance fee must be paid every year or they will be removed”, the mayor emphasized making clear that, if necessary, there will be an appeal even to the European Court of Justice.
The final proposals of the Ministry of Environment are expected on May 12, however, the political thermometer is already rising.
The challenge of a green, sustainable and fair redevelopment in Elliniko seems to be turning into a new field of conflict – not only for local government, but also for the way in which the government perceives the relationship between public and private interests, thetoc.gr noted.