Work has begun to change the Ledra – Onasagorou sidewalks, with the first phase of the project including the landscaping of the facades of 89 buildings on Ledra Street. The second phase will follow with the landscaping of the facades of 51 buildings, while the third phase of the project, which includes the upgrading of services and the pavement of the sidewalks, is still a thorn.
Filenews visited the areas where the works are being carried out on Ledra Street and spoke with the Deputy Mayor of Nicosia, Chrysanthos Fakas, who explained the process and phases of the project.
What does the first phase of the project include?
Mr. Fakas clarified that the works of the first phase have begun, which include the landscaping of 89 buildings, while stressing that these works will be limited to the facades of the buildings.
Specifically, the first phase of the project concerns interventions on the facades of the buildings along the two pedestrian streets, with the aim of improving the aesthetic image and preserving the special architectural character of the area. The works are expected to cover approximately 29,500 square meters of building facades over a length of approximately two kilometers. The amount of the contract amounts to €3,442,179.53 plus VAT, while the duration of the project is estimated at 18 months.
The second phase of the project
The second phase of the project, which will include interventions in another 51 buildings, i.e. the beautification of the facades in the area of Onasagorou Street, is expected to start in the coming months and will last about 12 months.
Interventions in both phases include repairs to carved stone, plastered surfaces and concrete on balconies, maintenance or replacement of wooden and metal frames, installation of new gutters, replacement of commercial signs, as well as arrangement of cables and wires located on the facades of buildings.
According to the Deputy Mayor of Nicosia, the nature of the project is very difficult, because in the center of Nicosia there are too many visitors and shopkeepers and the Municipality has made many efforts and coordinated actions with the contractor to ensure smooth operation and accessibility for the public. "The area will be continuously, for the entire duration of the works, fully accessible as the works are limited only to the facades," he pointed out.
The third phase of the project is a thorn in the side
The third phase will include the upgrading of services and the road surface of Ledra and Onasagorou, so road construction works will be carried out.
It is worth noting that the third phase of the project, according to Mr. Fakas, is the one in which the Municipality of Nicosia has announced and clarified that it will be done after consultation and dialogue with those affected to determine the extent and manner of the works.
"The goal of the Municipality of Nicosia is to create a commercial, attractive economic center in the city and to highlight its cultural and historical heritage," said Mr. Fakas.
It should be noted that the project is part of the Revitalization Program of areas along the Green Line.
New breath on Konstantinou Palaiologou Street
Fresh air blew on Konstantinou Palaiologou Street (from "Oxi" to Eleftherias Square) after the completion of the works of the project "Regeneration of the Internal Perimeter Arch of the Moat – Phase A".
Photograph during the works carried out on Konstantinou Palaiologou Street in the previous months.As can be seen from the photos of Filenews, work was carried out both externally from the moat and internally, above the bastion. The project also included the landscaping of the facades, as the buildings were aesthetically upgraded with the landscaping and the removal and installation of new uniform signs.
