Sure how the Double Regeneration project will be implemented appeared the Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis, talking to bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94,6. In fact, he did not hesitate to place a bet on it, expressing optimism that the project at the Botanical Garden can be implemented until 2024/25.
At the same time, he referred to the advantages of the project for all parties and stressed that he sees no substantial reason for not being approved by the General Assembly of Amateur Panathinaikos. He also revealed that bilateral agreements between the parties involved will be presented at the next municipal council.
In detail, Costas Bakogiannis spoke to Antonis Panoutsos and Antonis Karpetopoulos:
-the plan of the Double Regeneration: “The Double Regeneration is a supra-local development program that creates two poles, one at the Botanical Garden and one at Alexandras Avenue. The wider area of Votanikos has been forgotten and abandoned for years, but it is only a few meters from the center of Athens. The whole area will be in front of the stadium by car. Athens will win a green lung with the works on the Avenue. We have an excellent collaboration with Mr. Malakate and the entire Board of Amateur and I want to thank them for that. We are moving forward in coordination with the Amateur, the PAE, the government and the banks. It is only a matter of time before we see the first bulldozers. The General Assembly of the Amateur consists of people who love and care for Panathinaikos, I have no doubt that it will agree. We are talking about the most modern stadium in Greece, we are talking about facilities of 7,500sqm. for the Amateur with provision for all departments and for the disabled… Why should a Panathinaikos or an Athenian disagree with this? I speak as mayor, I know well what my role is and I do not grow where I am not sown. But I have to talk about the importance of a development program for Athens and Panathinaikos. Athens and Panathinaikos are connected “.
-the steps that have been taken for the project: “A great effort has been made and is being made for months to ensure that Panathinaikos will have the same rights at Votanikos, as it has for so many years on the Avenue. This was not so obvious, the government needed to take some legislative initiatives. Such a complex project can not be completed in a few hours. We will bring the contracts to the city council of all parties involved within the next week. We have the business plan that envisages that in the first phase it can cause direct investments of individuals of 300 million euros. There is a study that comes to this conclusion and concerns the first phase. We can make it public, we have no problem. This area has tremendous potential. It is within the urban fabric, but at the moment it is dilapidated and can be upgraded and jobs created “.
-how the project will be financed: “We have the project of Double Reconstruction itself, which is executed and implemented with public funding. It is the arena itself, which is 115 million euros and beyond that is the infrastructure, which has to do with the roads, the stream, etc., for which we have secured the money from the Recovery Fund. The banks have the obligation to finance the sports facilities of the Amateur and the Municipality of Athens. The project itself will act as an accelerator for the wider area. Only with the infrastructure, companies will come to invest in business activities. “They will bring – we estimate – investments of 300 million euros in the first phase”.
-what will happen on the Avenue: “The Avenue will be a green space with underground parking and there will be the Panathinaikos museum. There will also be a small coffee. We are interested in Athens gaining a large green space. Tsarouchis once said that the greatest contribution you can make to the city is to demolish, not to build. Where we can we want to gain squares of public space. There is a commitment of the Governor to take the next step in the refugees. We have a complete plan and we are waiting for the Region to move forward as fast as possible “.
-whether the Municipality will borrow money: “No, the Municipality will not borrow money. The project is funded by the public investment program, the infrastructure from the Recovery Fund and the facilities of the Amateur and the Municipality from the banks. There is a specific presidential decree. It includes the plan, but also describes the responsibilities of each. We rely on this decree, we do not… tarzanies. Banks finance, they do not lend. They have a property in the area, which obviously they want to be utilized and in order to do that, the Double Regeneration project must be completely detached. This is the logic of public-private partnership. It must be made clear that there is no loan. ”
-the project schedule if approved by the Amateur General Assembly: “Bilateral agreements must be approved, this is the first step. The second step is the General Assembly of the Amateur. The third step is to start the preliminary works for the stadium, the facilities of the amateur and we proceed with the auction of the arena itself. This is the order, simplified. ”
-when can Panathinaikos join Votanikos: “I am a professional optimist. If I was pessimistic, nothing would happen. If we had started the Double Regeneration with pessimism, we would have eaten our faces long ago. I’m willing to bet on this project, whatever you want. If possible, climb on the bulldozer, even without a Panathinaikos flag. I will run for mayor again, but I am happy to give you my seat (laughs). I believe that this project can be completed in 2024 or 2025. First Votanikos ends and then we talk about Alexandras Avenue. There is the presidential decree and there are also contracts, where everyone undertakes legal obligations. We are very consciously choosing this path and in order to reach these agreements, a great effort has been made from all sides “.
-what will happen if the General Assembly of the Amateur does not vote in favor of the Double Regeneration: “There was a song we listened to when we were little. “Whoever goes to battle to die, my soldier for war does not.” I am absolutely convinced that the General Assembly will vote for it and support it. Not with songs, but with clear data. We are talking about a project that will lay the foundations for Panathinaikos of the 21st century. I can not understand why someone would vote against it. I do not belong to the category of hidden politicians. I always fight, I know that in the battles I will give I will lose some. But there is no battle that I will not give. I’m convinced, not because I’m a professional optimist, but because the facts are very clear. We, the mayors, forget, what remains is the project, Athens and Panathinaikos. The Double Regeneration is clearly in favor of Panathinaikos, 100-0! ”
-the concert of Sakis Rouvas for the change of time: “I wish our problems are always whether or not Rouvas sings somewhere.”
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