Athens: Attikon – Apollo, a proposal and a refusal
“We don’t have much confidence in the Greek State”, noted Mr. Antonis Boyatzis, while cinemas have remained closed for ten years.
THE Municipality of Athens had made a proposal to the Museum of the City of Athens – Vouros Foundation – Eutaxia, in order to deal with the restoration of the building complex that houses the prisoners since 2012 “Attikon” and “Apollo” cinemasreveals me his statements to “K” the mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis.
The news comes two weeks after related article by “K” where it became apparent the (new) impasse in which the building complex of Stadiou Street has fallen, prolonging a ten-year impasse in the heart of the capital. As Mr. Bakoyiannis explains, the proposal to the president of the Museum of the City of Athens, Antonis Boyatzis, who is personally handling the case after the merger of the two institutions involved, was clear: “We fully undertake the restoration of the building on the condition that we manage for a period of time. its operation so as to cover the costs”.
I ask the mayor if the works could be based on the study drawn up by the emeritus professor of Architecture of the Greek Academy of Sciences, Ioannis Liakatas, which foresees, among other things, the conversion of the “Attikon” into a theater hall and the construction of a hotel unit on the side. of Christou Lada Street. “Obviously it needs study. But that’s not the primary thing. We must agree on the principle, agree on the framework. Unfortunately, the Foundation refused.”
Mr. Boyatzis fully confirms the mayor’s words. “Why did you refuse?” was the inevitable question. “I will tell you clearly: We do not know if Mr. Bakoyannis will be the next mayor of Athens.” That is: does the Foundation question his re-election chances? “It’s not about that. We owe Mr. Bakoyannis gratitude because he decisively contributed to the resolution of the issue with the solution of the merger of the two institutions. And I am personally sure that he will be re-elected. But he is not mayor forever. But how do we know what his successor will do?”
I wonder if there is a real risk of overturning an agreement that will exist between its first municipality and an institution if the tenant of the Kotzia Square Town Hall changes at some point. Here, Mr. Vogiatzis becomes absolutely clear: “We do not particularly trust the Greek State”, the president of the Foundation in whose hands lies the fate of the two unfortunate cinemas, without any spin. This is also the reason why he himself has turned to the search for a donation from a non-profit institution and, secondarily, to the search for a private investor. But if the Greek State managed to untangle the incredible legal entanglement of the two involved institutions, thus paving the way for the reopening of the two historic halls, why not trust it with the only reliable solution that is currently on the table? The question remains for the time being. And the pending Stadiou street continues its journey through time…