The Municipality of Kythira announced on the evening of Friday, April 15, that it had submitted one of the largest projects of recent years—if not decades—to the Recovery Fund for funding. The project has a budgeted cost exceeding €12,000,000 and involves a comprehensive redevelopment plan that will transform Avlemonas into one of the most modern communities, even on a national level. Read the full announcement:

The Avlemonas redevelopment project, with a budget of €12,120,000, has been submitted to the Recovery Fund

The Municipality of Kythira submitted to the Program «Initiatives Aimed at Improving Public Spaces» a proposal funded by the Recovery Fund titled «»Comprehensive Redevelopment of the Avlemona Settlement" and total budget (including VAT) 12.120.000€. It should be noted that, in the Finance Committee’s decision approving the relevant studies and submitting the proposal to the Recovery Fund (No. 60/2022), The representative of the largest minority party did not attend (without explanation).

The studies were prepared and approved by the Technical Support Department for Island Municipalities of the Regional Unit of the Attica Islands in cooperation with the Municipal Engineering Department and with the support, funded by the Municipality’s own resources, of the Technical Offices of the Mr. Athanasios Vlachogiannis (Architecture) and the Mr. Konstantinos Kourniotis (Stormwater Management) and have been unanimously approved by the Islands Regional Architectural Council.

It is about comprehensive redevelopment proposal, the likes of which has never been undertaken before for our island. The project concerns the total Bioclimatic Redevelopment of the Avlemona Settlement, in highlighting its natural beauty and in restoring and strengthening existing infrastructure.

The main focus of the redevelopment proposal concerns the Development of walking and recreational areas but also in aesthetic and functional upgrade of the entire settlement, in harmony with existing structures and with respect for the area’s distinctive architectural style. Features that already serve as landmarks, such as the Venetian Castle and the coastal promenades, are integrated with the new developments. Bicycle lanes, infrastructure for charging electric vehicles and supporting micromobility, as well as vehicle parking areas, are being created at the settlement’s boundaries.

As part of the project, and with the aim of ensuring that the redevelopment is comprehensive and can be maintained over the long term without the need for future interventions, the following are included:

Shaping the unshaped until Today, covering an area of 18,650 square meters to the south and west of the settlement’s built-up area, with the creation of recreational and walking areas.
Development of municipal parking lots covering an area of 3,200 square meters and 5,190 square meters to the north, on undeveloped land where this specific function is already being carried out.
Landscaping of a plaza and sidewalks covering an area of 1,476 square meters behind (west of) the old harbor.
Road construction, sidewalk installation, and street lighting throughout the entire area of the settlement's built environment.
Burying overhead OKW power lines throughout the entire project area.
New water supply networks and new household connections, in conjunction with the Paleopolis-Avlemonas desalination plant, which has already been funded by the «TRITSIS» program.
Sewer system throughout the entire project area.
Stormwater management infrastructure – flood protection.
Parking space allocation: 259 car spaces, 45 motorcycle spaces, 40 bicycle spaces.
Circular bike route.
Landscaped areas: 7,500 square meters.
4.1 km walking route for the blind.
27 crosswalks and 117 ramps to assist people with disabilities.
Urban furniture (trash cans, benches, etc.).
Underground trash bins with a remote fill-level monitoring system.

The study includes all the necessary provisions (gentle slopes, ramps, and guidance for people with visual impairments) for improved accessibility throughout the community for people with disabilities, seniors, and children, to ensure their comfortable and safe movement in common areas.

The proposed project is linked to the proposal for shared electric bicycle system which the Municipality of Kythira has already submitted in response to the Call for Proposals «Sustainable Urban Mobility, Micromobility, Integrated Urban Mobility Management», under which one (of the four) rental stations, equipped with 8 (of the 30) electric bicycles, is to be set up in Avlemonas.

This study serves as a «pilot» for any similar settlement revitalization study, as it constitutes a comprehensive intervention, including all necessary infrastructure projects. The municipal government will soon hold a presentation and public consultation on the respective redevelopment plans for Chora and Potamos., which are also landmark projects in public spaces, with positive impacts on the island as a whole, the economy, and tourism. Contracts will also soon be awarded for the Studies on the redevelopment of the common areas in Kapsali, while the following projects are also expected to be completed within the next 2 years: Studies on the redevelopment of the common areas in Agia Pelagia.

The urban renewal projects that have already been completed (Fratzia, Mitata, Belvedere, Toichio Ag. Pelagia, Sklavianika, Viaradika, etc.) or are in the process of being put out to bid or financed (Kato Chora Mylopotamos, Kypriotianika, Antikythira, etc.) as well as those that are maturing and are gradually being submitted for funding (Avlemonas, Chora, Potamos, Kapsali, Agia Pelagia, etc.) demonstrate that the Municipal Authority possesses the knowledge and experience to bridge a planning and development gap spanning many years and to claim, on an equal footing, on an equal footing with larger municipalities, funding and resources on a scale never before allocated to our municipality.

The proposal to include the project will be evaluated by the relevant ministry in the coming months.