The Scientific Evaluation Committee for the Green Cities & Green Communities Cyprus Awards 2023 has decided to award the City of Nicosia the Green City of Cyprus award for the urban regeneration project of the commercial triangle Makarios – Stasikratous – Evagorou in the “Sustainable Mobility and Transport” category for the year 2023.
According to an announcement, with this award, the Municipality of Nicosia automatically becomes a part of the Green Cities & Communities Network of Cyprus, under the Cyprus Center for Environmental Research and Education.
The assessment took place in the presence of the Commissioner for the Environment, Maria Panayiotou, and representatives from all collaborating entities.
The innovation of the urban regeneration project in the Makarios-Stasikratous-Evagorou commercial triangle lies in the idea that, through the enhancement of sustainable mobility, the experience of a modern, upgraded, and high-quality urban space can attract new life with multiple activities and investments, without traffic congestion, noise, and atmospheric pollution resulting from private car travel.
It is highlighted that, for the first time in Cyprus, the “Shared Space” traffic model, principles of urban bioclimatic design, Smart City infrastructure, electric vehicle and bicycle charging points were implemented in the project, along with provisions for installing trams and underground recycling and waste bins.
Additionally, with the approval of property owners, private and public sidewalks were aesthetically and functionally unified. The entire project area, as well as its connection to the rest of the urban center, ensures full accessibility for pedestrians and people with disabilities.
The project, it is noted, aligns with the Nicosia Municipality’s Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (ISUDS), which constitutes a broader and comprehensive plan for the sustainable development of the city, operating complementarily and in synergy with other projects and interventions implemented in the wider area, having multiplier effects.
“It directly and indirectly contributes to achieving national targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and energy conservation outlined in the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ and aligns with the framework of the new ‘Vision 2035’ Strategy,” it is added.
The awarding of the Green Flag will take place in a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
The projects “Integrated Regeneration of the Makarios – Stasikratous – Evagorou Commercial Triangle, Phase A & Phase B” were co-funded by the EU Cohesion Fund, the State Budget, and the Nicosia Municipality within the framework of the Programming Period 2014 – 2020.
