Thessaloniki: Gathering of citizens in Palataki
The emblematic building has remained closed for 16 years and citizens are asking for an investigation into the actions for its utilization.
To saved the “Palace” from 16-year dropout and to be utilized in favor of the place and the citizens, maintaining its public and supra-local character, dozens of citizens who gathered outside the emblematic building, in Kalamariaon her day Feast of Saint Demetrius.
The mobilization was organized by the citizens’ initiative “SAVE THE PALACE”, whose members informed those gathered about the actions that have been taken so far. Among them are the lawyer Kostas Mamelis, the architect who designed the New Beach of Thessaloniki, Prodromos Nikiforidis, the professor emeritus of the AUTH, Zacharias Skouras, the president of the retired judicial officers of Thessaloniki, Nikos Karakostas and the journalist Banakidis.
Their positions on this important issue, recognizing and supporting the request posed by the citizens’ initiative for the rescue and utilization of the “Government”, were developed at the meeting by: SYRIZA Member of Parliament Katerina Notopoulou, the former Minister of Macedonia – Thrace Nikos Tsiartsionis and former member of parliament Chrysa Arapoglou.
In fact, Mr. Tsiartsionis, who was also the last tenant of the building, before it was locked and handed over to abandonment, remembered some of the beautiful moments he spent there, in the period 204-2006. Among them were, as he said, the events of preparation of the claim on behalf of Thessaloniki, the organization of the World Exhibition EXPO 2008.
Among others, the former Mayor of Kalamaria, Theodosis Bakoglides, and the president of HELEPOX-TEF, Tasos Tzikas, attended the gathering.
The request that the citizens’ initiative had made before October 26 and remains in force: all members of the State and Political leadership of the place (the President of the Republic, the government, the deputies and the parties) but also the representatives of A ΄ and Β΄ degree of Local Self-Government and the bodies representing society to take a stand and take action to save the emblematic building that occupies a position in “Mikros Embolo”. Today the property belongs to ETAD (Public Real Estate Company SA).
It is recalled that the “Palataki” was built at the end of the 50’s intended to become a Government building. It was built on an area of about 15 acres. The two-story building has an area of 1,200 sq.m. while it also has a basement where there are warehouses, kitchens and a laundry room. In its front courtyard there is a small church of Saints Constantine and Helen, while behind it there is a helipad. It was inaugurated in 1960. In 1963 it was given to the royal family to stay in when visiting Thessaloniki, but the royal family only stayed in its premises for one night! In 1968 the use in the Ministry of Northern Greece. Since 2001, during the ministry of Giorgos Paschalidis, “Palataki” was declared “Preserved”.