Larnaca municipal council has presented 30 completed and planned projects costing about 100 million euros in a two-year review of its work. Leading the upcoming projects is a 35 million euro arts centre designed by Foster + Partners, which will be the focal point of the city’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2030.
The projects, some finished and others under way, are intended to transform the city by 2030. The review was held after the opening of Pattichio Park.
The arts centre will be built on the Land of Tomorrow site. “Our vision is to make a small Stavros Niarchos,” the mayor said, adding that they were racing to have the building ready in time. Separately, the Scala Theatre, closed because of structural problems, will be renovated for 5.3 million euros.
Due within two years
The old hospital will be restored and turned into a town hall for 10 million euros, one of the projects already started and due to be completed within two years. The others include a building for a Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) faculty, costing 11 million euros, the regeneration of the Agios Ioannis parish, with a budget of 7.5 million euros, and the Larnaca Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, estimated at 20 million euros.
Within the next year, work will be completed on regenerating the commercial centre, at a cost of 8 million euros, and part of Makarios Avenue in Livadia, for 4 million euros. The restoration of Oroklini’s old neighbourhood, with a budget of 2.5 million euros, will also be finished.
Port and former refinery site
The mayor said Larnaca’s strategic priorities were the development of the port and marina by the Cyprus Ports Authority (CPA) and public developments at the former refinery site. Plans will be drawn up to turn the area cleared of oil tanks into parks and a public beach open to everyone, he said.
Completed projects
Of the completed projects, the mayor singled out three parks which, he said, had changed residents’ habits. Pattichio Park cost 6.7 million euros, Salina Park 3.2 million euros and a multi-purpose park at Tsiakkilero 2.3 million euros. Visitor numbers at Pattichio Park have soared.
He also mentioned the completion of the municipal home for the elderly, which cost 4.5 million euros, and the regeneration of Akropolis and Alkis squares, costing 4 million euros.
Earlier, the mayor and the agriculture minister opened Pattichio Park, in the presence of the AKEL general secretary, the DIKO president, parliament members and city officials. During the review, council members presented the past two years’ work in a video.
