A citizens’ initiative has expressed cautious optimism but maintained scepticism regarding President Christodoulides’s recent announcements about the State Fair site development and road planning in the wider Engomi area.
The Initiative for a Human Engomi issued a statement following the president’s 30 June regional meeting in Nicosia, noting some departure from “previous total concretisation policies” whilst highlighting the absence of a clear commitment to creating a large, fully green urban park.
The group welcomed reduced emphasis on concrete development but criticised plans for “mixed-use” space, arguing this leaves room for construction incompatible with genuine green urban park requirements needed by Nicosia and its residents.
Opposition to tripartite committee
The initiative strongly opposed creating a tripartite project committee that excludes civil society from critical decision-making processes, particularly for projects affecting the entire local community.
“The formation of a tripartite committee without institutional citizen representation violates transparency principles and the right to participate in decision-making,” the statement read, citing international conventions Cyprus has signed and must implement.
The group called on the president, Nicosia mayor and relevant authorities to ensure substantial, institutional and continuous civil society participation from planning to implementation.
Macedonia Avenue
The initiative expressed clear opposition to planning a new road—Macedonia Avenue—within Engomi, arguing such infrastructure would divide the city, increase through-traffic and create serious consequences including character destruction of Makedonitissa and Parisinou neighbourhoods.
The group cited potential road network overloading, increased pollution and noise, safety risks and overall quality of life degradation for thousands of residents.
The initiative questioned persistence with the costly, socially rejected one-kilometre project estimated at €25 million including construction and expropriations, noting local community and parliamentary majority opposition through three consecutive years (2023-2025) of budget rejections.
Park vision
The citizens’ proposal envisions a large living green lung for all residents featuring dense planting, full accessibility, minimal gentle infrastructure and open spaces for sports, culture and play, delivering social, environmental, cultural and economic benefits including health improvements for greater Nicosia.
The initiative pledged continued advocacy for “a better, sustainable and human Nicosia” whilst demanding transparency and institutional participation in urban planning decisions.
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