Doukas: “Delays from the previous start in Botanikos – We will deliver a new stadium – a jewel”

In ten decisively important interventions for the reduction of the “Double Redevelopment” project on behalf of the new municipal authority, in the first 90 days after assuming its duties, it was mentioned the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, during the Municipal Council meeting. The Mayor of Athens spoke of undoubted delays for the project, which also includes his stadium Panathinaikou which are apparently due to the previous municipal authority.

He pointed out that the goal is to avoid any further source of delay and to absorb the delays that have occurred with appropriate handling, while he expressed the belief that the current municipal authority has the knowledge and determination to deliver to the Athenians, to the Athenians and to all Greeks a new stadium – jewel and a new world-class landmark, the new Olive Garden of Athens, next to the Acropolis.

Haris Doukas, in particular, underlined:

1) When we took over, the question of financing the Panathinaikos football stadium was literally up in the air. There was a pre-accession Decision, in February 2022, and nothing else. The relevant invitation from the Ministry of Environment and Energy was issued only on February 27, 2024, two full years after pre-accession and – of course – following our intervention. Since then, since that very day, we have cooperated with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and today we submitted the relevant file, following approval (unanimous in fact) by the Municipal Committee (208/2024 WTO). We are now awaiting the Decision of the Minister of Environment and Energy for the final approval of the financing.

2) Regarding the funding of the Clean-up, it is known that the site of the stadium was excavated in 2009 but has since been filled with indiscriminate deposits of rubble and rubbish. A Contract was awarded in March 2023 for the Decontamination of the site, but the money was not sufficient. As of August 2023 there was a documented need for additional funds. After so many months now the problem is solved. We consulted with both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (YPENA) about the need to continue the decontamination work in the surrounding area where the stadium will be built and we secured 4 million for the decontamination.

3) Earthworks are also required for the removal of all kinds of materials in the Panathinaikos football stadium under construction, after consultation with the Ministry of Finance and following the invitation entitled “INVITATION FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR NEW PROJECTS TO THE SPECIAL PROGRAM OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ATHENS” we ensured the necessary funds amounting to €6,863,881.99, from the National Development Program – Special Program of the Municipality of Athens. We have drawn up the relevant File following approval (unanimous here as well) by the Municipal Committee (204/2024 WTO) and we await the relevant Ministerial Decision. As soon as this is issued, we sign the Contract with the Consortium Contractor – which obviously must undertake to do these works with a Supplementary Contract – and thus the work on the new Stadium can begin.

4) Regarding the Building Permit, we unblock the issue of the Survey, the issuance of which is the responsibility of the Municipality. Since October 2023 the issue was pending, finally on February 9, 2024, the Survey was finalized and uploaded to the electronic platform e-Permits.

5) We resolve, in cooperation with DAOKA, the problems regarding the approval of the Coverage Chart. For example, one of the issues was that of determining the exact number of parking spaces. Since October 2023, the issue had been raised. Finally, it was resolved by an amendment which was voted on 29 February 2024 and which defines as parking spaces the maximum number envisaged in the Strategic Environmental Impact Study, i.e. 450 parking spaces, 325 under the new Stadium and 125 under its facilities Amateur.

6) These days we are solving one more problem that suddenly arose: Inside the plot there are buildings, which have become the property of the Municipality of Athens and a Demolition Permit must be issued for them, before the Permit for the new Stadium is issued. We found a methodology, it leads to the solution and this issue.

7) Two other important Contracts to be concluded concern the two Technical Consultants. As for the first Technical Consultant, for the new Stadium and the facilities of the Amateur, the Auction was held and the relevant process is progressing. In fact, we proceeded with a small Bridge Agreement, until the main Agreement is signed.

8) Regarding the second Technical Advisor, for the Greenery, Common Areas, Road Construction, Sewerage and the Cycle Path, we are in the final stage of preparing the Declaration.

9) Another critical issue with serious delays concerns the ownership of the land in the “Double Redevelopment” area. From the first day we ran it with special diligence and painstaking efforts, as well as the honorable contribution of the service agents, and we managed to collect the data, creating a comprehensive monitoring list of the progress of the expropriations. We immediately started meeting with the owners in order to speed up the settlement process. In the implementation of the meetings so far (more than 12), we have achieved, in the majority, a fair compromise with the owners. For the rest, we await the assessment in order to proceed with a compromise.

10) We formed an 8-member project team, headed by myself, and including the Secretary General of the Municipality of Athens, the Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure, Heads of the relevant Departments, the Lawyer of the Legal Service of the Municipality of Athens and a specialized Legal Advisor.