Thessaloniki city council rejects petition for public say in fairgrounds revamp

Thessaloniki’s municipal assembly has rejected a petition submitted by much than 23,000 residents demanding a accidental successful plans for a large-scale redevelopment of the bluish larboard city’s Helexpo fairgrounds.

Following an eight-hour league connected Wednesday, the petition to enactment the plans to a metropolis referendum was voted down by 29 councilors, with 7 supporting the petition and six abstaining.

Thessaloniki “does not request further delays oregon endless discussions that owe its future,” said Mayor Stelios Angeloudis, arguing against the petition. He besides questioned the projected referendum’s legitimacy, adding that it would outgo astir 1 cardinal euros to signifier such a vote.

The petitioners reason that the redevelopment of the 176,000 square metre ιστοσελίδα that sits conscionable disconnected the downtown area, betwixt the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum, concerns the full city. 

“Hundreds of radical mobilized, so their antiauthoritarian close tin beryllium heard,” said Maria Keki, representing the committee organizing the petition.

Officials presented plans for a large overhaul of the fairgrounds, including a 120,000 square metre metropolitan parkland covering much than 70% of the site, alongside modern accumulation facilities and underground parking. The €120 cardinal task is expected to determination to tender aboriginal this year.