CYPRUS: Nicosia city centre gets multi-million facelift

An EUR 8 mln project will upgrade the heart of Nicosia’s commercial centre that has struggled to relive its glory days since the economic crisis.

Contracts for the first phase of the project to upgrade the commercial triangle of Makarios, Stasicratous and Evagorou avenues were signed by Nicosia Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis and the consortium Cybarco – A. Panayides.

According to Nicosia Municipality the project aims to transform the City Center into a friendly urban space, attractive for investment and commercial activity with multiple benefits for businesses, residents and the visitors.

Amongst other things the project is to improve the pavements and roads, to facilitate the accessibility of pedestrians and people with disabilities and to ease traffic flow. It also foresees the creation of small squares offering residents and visitors the opportunity for a number of outdoor activities.

Shading is also to be enhanced with the addition of a large number of trees (more than 330) and the application of the principles of bioclimatic design. This is expected to help increase the hours that people are able to spend shopping in the area.

Nicosia Municipality said that a unified area, which they see as an outdoor shopping mall will be created in the ‘Commercial Triangle’ within a 16-month period after work begins in September.

Despite the picturesque description put forward by the consortium and the municipality, local residents have expressed concerns over another disruptive project taking place parallel to never-ending works at Eleftheria Square.

Meanwhile, works carried out on Omirou Avenue has added to the frustration as road works there have caused endless traffic jams and income loss to local business.