By T. Igoumenidi
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Six high-rise buildings (above 200 meters from the sea level) and various types and sizes of cutting-edge residences are an integral part of the Helliniko real estate redevelopment project in southeast coastal Athens, where the Greek capital’s old airport once operated.
According to a recently submitted “comprehensive development plan”, a necessary bureaucratic prerequisite before bulldozers begin work, the strategic goal of urban planners – in addition to creating a profit-making vehicle for investors – is to upgrade surrounding districts through the extensive creation of green space and recreational areas within a metropolitan complex that also includes residential and commercial land uses.
In terms of the six high-rises, the Lamda Development-led international consortium that won the property development concession said one of the skyscrapers will serve as a “landmark” for the entire project, and is currently known by the draft name “metropolitan park arena”.
Another of the six high-rises will be located near a planned marina and will be residential (marina residential tower), while yet another is designated as an office tower. A fourth high-rise is a planned six-star hotel, while the fifth high-rise is called an “integrated resort tower”, which will include a casino.
The sixth and last high-rise building is designated for residential and other recreational uses, identified in the planning stage as the “promenade residential tower”.
