Aulimonas SOS! A small intervention and an idea

The design office Thanasis Vlachogiannis has offered exceptional studies in Kythira. For this reason, I would suggest, purely out of collegiality, that the study on Avlaimon be revised in one respect only, while there is still time.

I cannot go into the details of the study, I will only talk about the parking spaces parallel to the horizontal axis of the settlement.

The settlement is unsustainable in size. This conclusion is evident after the end of the tourist season. The settlement can double in size to become functional and sustainable all year round.. To gain autonomy and the ability to support stores in winter.

This is a possibility that the Municipality has through the Domestic Property.

1. Approval of the General Urban Plan for the expansion of the settlement north of the back road of the settlement (service road). The study and plans from the Koukouli administration era exist, but they have been «lost» since 2014.
2. Exchange of plots located within the A’ Archaeological Zone of Paleopolis with properties that will be included in the extension of the Avlemonas Town Plan. (Proposal by Tsaravopoulos). Thus, Kythirians who own properties in the Archaeological Zone and are unable to exploit them will acquire new properties in the settlement of Avlemonas. (Restoration of justice). The area of the First Archaeological Zone of Paleopolis, while preserving the existing residences in the area, could become a large archaeological park, hosting archaeology students every year who would research the birthplace of Aphrodite with the support of the Ministry of Culture. This would be a move that would bring the island into contact with many young people. Furthermore, the possible discovery of the temple of Aphrodite in the area will raise the international profile of Kythira.
3. It is well known that the following belong to the Domestic Property 18 building blocks in Phase II of the Avlemonas Development Project.

We can estimate 150 plots of land. These can be sold under certain conditions. Thus, Domestic Property will increase its budget significantly from the €1,000,000 it currently manages.

This will enable many other public works projects to be completed in Kythira.

All that is needed is an administrator who has a broader understanding of the development of Kythira.

ADJUSTMENT OF THE STUDY

The proposed change only concerns parking spaces.

1. The placement of parking spaces parallel to the back road and along almost its entire length will sever the functional continuity of the existing settlement with the future extension.
2. Furthermore, a horizontal parking lot creates visual pollution in a small settlement such as Avlemonas.
3. The asphalt covering of the parking areas will significantly increase the temperature levels in the settlement. This may have an impact on the number of visitors to Avlemonas, limiting the number of visitors.

CONCLUSION:

The variation in the positioning of the parking spaces in a vertical arrangement in relation to the rear road provides a solution to some of the problems that may arise.

In addition, a proper study of parking lot planting, and perhaps alternative methods of covering instead of asphalt paving, will provide a solution to the remaining issues.

PANOS HATZIGIANNIS
ARCHITECT EMP
M Arch II  UCLA