15.08.2022
The Department of the Environment has given the green light for the establishment of a new Jumbo store in the former Mazda Showroom in Latsia, Nicosia. This will definitely create problems.
The problem of accessing Nicosia from other cities via the motorway is real, with almost daily traffic jams sometimes reaching from Laika/Calispera traffic lights to Nissou.
Two years ago, I expressed concerns about traffic at the intersection of the Mall of Cyprus and the General Hospital in connection with the pending sale of the Mazda building.
The presence of a shopping mall, Ikea, Leroy Merlin, a hospital, plus the undeveloped Kalamon Street (which, once developed, will double or triple the total number of developments) is already causing traffic jams at one of the two exits from Nicosia.
Now to be added is the new Jumbo department store, with huge demand for parking and driveways, which, with a retail space of 10,500 sq. m, you can understand what will happen.
This store is very successful and attracts many customers. A simple comparison of the same project in Lakatamia will discourage even the most ardent supporters of this location.
And imagine that during the holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, the number of visitors to all retail stores and shopping centers will increase dramatically.
The existing road network simply can’t handle this traffic load and I expect an increase in accidents because of this, especially at the two shopping center and hospital roundabouts.
As a result, access, especially to the Latsia-Yeri-hospital area, will be very problematic, and I hope that the designers of the new infrastructure have taken this into account.
These expected traffic jams (similar to what is happening at the Polemidia roundabout) will make it difficult for residents and others to visit the Latsia-Yeri-Laiki Lefkothea area and, in general, areas in the south and east of Nicosia.
It is necessary to take into account the ramifications of development plans.
The completion of this project and the mentioned new buildings will probably double or even triple the traffic.
Recently, a plot of land of about 11,000 sq. m next to the shopping center was sold for 8 million euros to expand the commercial development, which will certainly increase the traffic load.
Some of the new planned roads may help, but it will most likely be too late to do anything about it by the time the extent of the problem is revealed.
Antonis Loizou & Associates EPE – real estate appraisers, real estate agents and real estate consultants
