Xanthi Tobacco Warehouse: From a symbol of prosperity, one step before the collapse after the fire (pics)

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The risk of total collapse is now facing the old tobacco warehouse in the center of Xanthi, which today, Tuesday (18/1) burned completely after a large fire that broke out inside.

Completely abandoned in recent years, a symbol of the city’s prosperity in the early 19th century, it has become a hotbed of infection and illegality. As Ioannis Bakirtzis, Associate Professor of the Department of History and Ethnology at the Democritus University of Xanthi, tells GRTimes, “this building is located in the historic core of the tobacco warehouses of the southern part of Xanthi, very close to the about 1890 “.

“This is a classic building of industrial architecture of the 19th century and inside it was secondary processing of tobacco, such as packaging. It is influenced by corresponding European buildings, which are usually three-storey and have great historical value. “Unfortunately, this has been abandoned for many years,” he added.

Referring to the buildings of the complex that have not been left to their fate, Mr. Bakirtzis adds that one part has been utilized by the Foundation of Folk Art and Tradition, another part belongs to the municipality, the so-called “P”, due to its shape and right next to the south side is this building which remained completely unused. “These are large and bulky buildings, which is why the costs required for their development are just as great.”

“It basically reflects the whole history of tobacco and a whole turnover that was a great financial capital for Xanthi and that essentially led it to its prosperity in the 19th century,” he adds.

Proposal for transfer of the School of Architecture

The professor of the Democritus University of Thrace, who lives permanently in Xanthi, also states that recently there was an intention to move the facilities of the University School of Architecture to the building in question, which did not go ahead, thus eventually becoming “a source of infection and illegality in the city center. Without even the proper lighting “.

Risk of total collapse

Ioannis Bakirtzis does not fail to note that after the big fire, there is now a serious risk of total collapse of the building.

“You know these buildings, they have mostly wooden roofs, wooden floors and large open spaces with wooden beams. In essence, except for the stone walls and the tiled roof, the rest of the building has burned down and now there is a serious risk of total collapse. “Something that will cause an even bigger problem, as this massive building is surrounded by apartment buildings and apartments, parked cars, but also pedestrians who pass by the point”.

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