The projects beautifying and upgrading the center of Nicosia

A number of development projects are already underway or in the works, towards redefining and improving the center of Nicosia.

These include the regeneration of roads and areas, renovations, the creation of new projects and transfers or establishment of university school premises.

The face of the capital city center is expected to change radically in the coming years, and various public sector projects will contribute to this transformation.

Housing plan

A new housing scheme for owning a home in the walled city of Nicosia comes into force in the coming weeks.

The plan comes will operate cumulatively with the plans that were announced two months ago and relate to the regeneration of the old city of Nicosia, with the transfer of the University of Cyprus’ School of Architecture to the Phaneromeni building, the grant plan for the construction of student residences, incentives to strengthen business activity, and also upgraded incentives for listed buildings.

The aim of the specific housing policy plan is to give young people the opportunity to acquire a privately owned home for permanent ownership within the walled city, improving the image of desolation it currently presents.

€5 million will be allocated from the budget of the Ministry of the Interior for this purpose.

The plan has been implemented since March 1, 2023 and will remain open until December 31, 2025 or until the available budget is exhausted.

The benefits of the specific plan will be identical to those of the housing plan for mountainous and remote areas, with the maximum amount of aid depending on the composition of the participating families, and falling between €35,000 to €70,000. At the same time, additional assistance of €10,000 will also be offered for people with disabilities.

The Open University moving to SOPAZ

The Open University will now have a permanent base, following a decision by the Council of Ministers.

Following a proposal by the Municipality of Nicosia, for the concession of the space for the building facilities in the SOPAZ area, a difficult area on the Green Line, consultations between the Minister of Education and Open University Board of Directors brought about positive results.

The University's intention is to contribute part of the reserve, which amounts to €5,559,000, to the construction of a privately owned building.

Dimostheni Severi Avenue

Dimostheni Severi Avenue will be transformed into a public service road, following a decision by the Council of Ministers.

The third decision that was approved concerns the redevelopment of Demosthenes Severi Avenue, into a public service road.

Anticipated to cost €90 million, this grand plan concerns the holistic renovation of the Chief Secretariat area situated in front of the Ministry of the Interior.

In addition, it concerns the approval of the plans for the construction of the three buildings that will house the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice, in the areas that are currently parking spaces in front of the Ministry of the Interior.

It also includes the creation of an underground parking area with a capacity of 600 cars and the total renovation of the General Secretariat building.

The building will house additional other services such as the Cyprus Library, the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts and Commissioners' Offices.

The relevant tender is expected to be announced within the spring, in cooperation with the Technical Chamber.

The project, which is being undertaken by the Department of Public Works, is estimated to be completed within 32-34 months.

Redevelopment of Trikoupi street

Reconstruction works of Trikoupi Street in the walled city began at the end of January.

The "Redevelopment of the Creative Business District Area - Maintenance/Rehabilitation of Views and Redevelopment of Roads - Undergrounding of Public Utility Networks - Phase A1" project is part of the overall "Redevelopment of the Creative Business District Area" project, which is part of the wider planning of the Integrated Sustainable Urban Strategy Development and in the Area Plan of the Center of Nicosia.

The project aims to upgrade the urban environment and address traffic problems, including facilitating the movement of people with disabilities, with the aim of attracting and establishing new creative activities in the city center.

The technical works in the project aim at the overall remodeling of the space defined by the facades of the buildings, consisting of the public and private streets as well as the public and private pavements.

The construction works are aimed at the maintenance / restoration of the facades of the buildings in the area of ​​the project.

In this context, new traffic standards will be applied including horizontal and vertical road markings, while a new road surface and pavements are being laid out, which will be constructed at a single elevation, with the application of a final granite surface over the entire width of the road and pavements.

Five new pedestrian crossings are being built and new standards are being implemented for the safe and seamless movement of pedestrians and people with disabilities. Also, the installation of new street lighting, a new integrated underground rainwater drainage network, reconstruction of the sewage network, undergrounding, upgrading and completion of service networks / Public Welfare Authorities, new urban equipment, planting of imitation tree rows, etc. are planned.

The amount of the contract amounts to €3,878,627.00 plus VAT.

The work is expected to be completed in 16 months and will be carried out in two construction phases lasting eight months each.

New Cyprus Museum

The foundation stone laying ceremony for the New Cyprus Museum was laid on 23 January.

The cost of building the new National Museum, which will be implemented on the site of the old Nicosia Hospital, will amount to €144 million.

Construction work is expected to be completed within 42 months.

Over 6.5 thousand exhibits that the Museum will have, are divided into three distinct, spatial and semantic units, in a way that will reveal the long history of Cyprus, as well as its uninterrupted relationship with the sea.

The New Cyprus Museum, in addition to the permanent and periodic exhibition spaces, will include the necessary modern facilities for the maintenance of the works, workshops, a library, as well as event and leisure spaces.

Reconstruction of the old GSP area

Work is progressing on the complete renewal of the area that once housed the historic stadium in Nicosia.

The contractor for the development project of the radical renovation and redevelopment of the site of the old GSP is the Cyfield Construction – Cyfield Development JV consortium.

Construction work began in November 2021, with delivery of the project estimated in November 2023.

The redevelopment includes, among other things, the creation of an urban square, green spaces and recreational areas, as well as the construction of an underground parking area with a capacity for 554 vehicles.

It is also noted that there will be 33 disabled parking spaces, 28 parking spaces for people with reduced mobility (including families), and also 12 electric car charging areas, with provision for 108 electric cars.

Low trees and other vegetation will be planted above the underground parking facilities. The new park will include, among others, a cafe, restaurant, bookstore, art gallery, amphitheater, plaza, small waterfall and water-feature wall.

The budget of this impressive project for Nicosia stands at €20 million.