02.08.2022
Looking for an alternative solution, amid stifling schedules, the Nicosia Municipality and the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Costas Cadiz agreed to move the wholesalers located in the Nicosia wholesale market to a new location as soon as possible.
After declaring all buildings as hazardous structures and informing affected people that they will have to vacate the premises and relocate their businesses by the end of October, a meeting was held last week at the initiative of Mayor Konstantinos. Giorkatsis with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and the delegation of the Association of Wholesalers of the Municipality of Nicosia.
Mr. Cadiz informed the victims that he had undertaken a search and search for a new facility that could house the businesses. Something that will need to be done in the near future as on the one hand the buildings are dangerous and there is a security issue and on the other hand the merchants have been informed that they will have to leave no later than October 31st.
The agencies involved are looking for the best possible solution for all parties regarding relocation/ relocation of affected businesses. Due to the size of the area required for the wholesale market, the Municipality of Nicosia is unable to offer another area. Of course, he recognizes the importance of the market in question, which not only serves the municipality of Nicosia, but also plays a key role in the supply and distribution of fruits and perishable products throughout the province, in connection with which he turned to the relevant ministry for assistance.
Dangerous and outdated
The wholesale market was built in 1967 on the territory of SOPAZ and has been operating continuously since then. It consists of only five buildings, which were found unsuitable because they do not meet modern requirements, such as, for example, anti-seismic standards, and also do not meet modern sanitary requirements.
On the wholesale market, 32 companies/users are active in a total of 54 locations. In a letter dated June 2, 2022, the municipal council decided to send a letter to wholesalers informing them that the building was deemed dangerous. He also informed those affected that he would not renew wholesale market real estate licenses that expired on December 31, 2021. At the same time, he urged them to take measures to evacuate buildings by 12:00 on October 31, 2022, as well as to relocate their businesses.
The cost of the renovation is unknown. Since all objects of the building are recognized as equally dangerous, partial repairs are not possible. However, even in this case, partial repairs require the evacuation of the buildings under repair, which creates problems for some enterprises. In its respective letter to the trader, the municipality makes it clear that it is not negotiating to accept any liability regarding people’s exposure to risk.
The only solution in these circumstances seems to be the reconstruction of buildings in accordance with urban planning and sanitary norms and specifications, when and if the necessary resources are found.
It is worth noting that the cost of strengthening/rehabilitating the existing building complex without upgrading the electrical equipment was estimated in 2019 at 1.5 million euros plus VAT, and the modernization of the electrical installation at 500,000 euros plus VAT. However, with today’s economy and the skyrocketing cost of building materials/transport, the cost is estimated to have doubled.
Knowing that the buildings of the wholesale market are in decline due to natural wear and tear and that over time they cannot meet the needs of users, the municipality of Nicosia claims that it has submitted alternative proposals on numerous occasions . and offers to wholesalers, unfortunately, are futile.
Among other things, the municipal service, in an effort to find the necessary resources for the annual maintenance of the buildings of the Wholesale Market, immediately after the financial crisis, during which the government unilaterally reduced state support to the municipality by 35% in 2012, tried to raise user fees in 2014 to create a maintenance fund . Ultimately, the sellers’ backlash did not lead to higher commissions.
In the period 2015 – 2016, the municipal service at meetings with the Committee of wholesalers recommended the evacuation of the market for the construction of new infrastructure. In this regard, a new wholesale market was planned, which would meet European requirements, hygiene and safety standards and satisfy the needs of the traders to whom the plans were presented.
At the same time, the Municipality of Nicosia has received funding of around 3 million euros from the Green Line Revitalization Fund, which will cover the cost of building the building (shell). Subsequently, wholesalers will have to invest in customizing and equipping their premises to suit their needs.
In addition, during the same period (2015 – 2016), proposals were submitted to move to configured warehouses in Dali until the completion of the new market.
For their part, the wholesalers justifiably rejected these proposals, since the proposed site was located far from the city center.
