Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and several government ministers inaugurated the demolition of buildings at the old Athens airport on Friday morning. The demolition marks the begin of work for the big investment project Helliniko.
“Today is a very important day, a symbolic day. By demolishing the old useless buildings of the old airport, we are laying the foundations for the new Helliniko,” PM Mitsotakis said as the bulldozers were bringing down cement and iron bars.
“One of the largest, perhaps the largest project in the Mediterranean, will be realised in this – for 19 years abandoned – area,” he added.
“It is the largest coastal park in the Mediterranean, but at the same time it will become a growth lever. In its full operation, Helliniko will create more than 80,000 jobs, 10,000 jobs will be created only during the construction phase. It will be a modern, ecological, environmentally friendly project, a project that will mark the beginning of a new era for Greece as we all envision it,” the Prime Minister stressed.
The weird ceremony was live broadcast. The two bulldozers started to demolish in front of the Prime Minister the first of 900 buildings.
On the first anniversary of New Democracy government and after repeated announcements “bulldozers enter Helliniko” on three-month intervals, the 8-billion-euro investment project finally starts.
What if it is the state and not the investor who pays for the demolition?
The Helliniko Project is expected to create 75,000 jobs – 10,000 alone during the construction – bring the state 14 billion euros income and add to GPD with 2.4%.
Provided, of course, that one million of international visitors will come to this specific “new city in the Athens Riviera” per year.
The demolition of the first 100 old buildings is scheduled to last until end of October. Later the area will have to be prepared for the installation of infrastructure to be followed by the foundations of large building complexes such as the skyscraper of the Mohegan casino, the skyscraper for offices and 10,000 luxury apartments, the building of the 6-star hotel and a huge Mall. A marine is to be constructed at Agios Kosmas beach.
The marina and the beach are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2022.
The progress of the project will much depend on smaller investors’ interest and demand. And a full recovery of tourism given the current circumstances.
The Helliniko Project may conclude in 10 years.
What is NOT mentioned. Hundreds of stray cat live in poor condition on this area. The developer and the Greek state DID NOT give ANY money to support Animal Welfare groups to trap, spay / neuter and care for this cats. With drmomition work starting ALL this cats get HOMELESS.
In my area of Athens, Strefi, most of the beautiful street cats who were being fed and care for by several dedicated Greek women. disappeared during the lockdown. I know that they were being fed, so I presume that they were poisoned. Now, I see about 3 kittens left out of a former population of perhaps 20 young adult cats and 5 older adults who parented them. It is now an empty place, a sad place, where animals have been murdered by ignorant and vicious peasants. My personal feeling is that these elderly Greeks perhaps should have been left to die from the Coronavirus: they have nothing to offer Greece or the world, just their rancid hatred.