The protection of physiognomy and mixed uses in Commercial Triangle of Athens is ensured, following a decision taken today by the city’s Municipal Council on the status granting new licenses occupation of common space, as the implementation of the program of small and large reconstruction, maintenance and protection of the infrastructure in the Historic Triangle begins in the immediate future.

The new program completes the pilot interventions (2019-2020) and includes, among other things, the reconstruction of squares such as Agia Irini and Karytsis, the creation of the sidewalks established in the 1990s (but not implemented), the redesign and reconstruction of the existing sidewalks.

At the same time, the upgrading and rehabilitation of the sidewalks on 16 streets, upgrading of accessibility, extensive plantings and protection of the existing greenery are planned.

Before the start of the works, which will add additional free space in the heart of the city, the Municipal Authority brought to the Municipal Council a regulation which expressly provides that for at least three years no new permission to occupy common space will be given for the installation of table seats in eight new pedestrian streets in all four squares that will be reconstructed.

“We plan and implement the small and large projects of the municipality with an eye on the needs of the people who live, move, work and also have fun in Athens. Especially in the Historical Triangle, our concern is manifold. We want the residents to stay in their homes, to preserve the many and so different shops in the area, keeping intact the character of commercial Athens”, said the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis

At what points will the suspension of granting new licenses apply?

Specifically, the non-granting of new permits for the occupation of common space in the next three years, concerns the following points:

– The squares of Agia Irini, Agios Georgios Karytsis, Agioi Theodoros and Iero Lochos, which are being reconstructed.

– The new – under construction – pedestrian streets: Praxitelous I. Paparrigopoulou from Praxitelous to Palaion Patron Germanou, Pl. Karytsi between Praxiteles and Parnassos, Lekka, Agia Irini – Athenaides – Perikleus – Karagiorgi of Serbia, from Lekka to Voulis, and Anthimos Gazi (they have been institutionalized since the 90s).

– The Evangelistria pedestrian street between Athenaides and Ermou and the Skuleni pedestrian street, which are being redesigned and reconstructed.

In his presentation, the deputy mayor of the Municipal Police and Public Spaces, Vassilis Koromantzos, emphasized, among other things: “The philosophy of suspending the granting of new permits to occupy public space is based on our belief that mixed uses should be maintained. We do not want and should not replace the existing shops in the Historic Commercial Triangle with others of health interest”.

A similar measure of suspending the issuance of permits for the occupation of public space, which had positive results, was taken during the first phase of the works in the Historic Commercial Triangle of Athens.