Duke for Botanical: “We have a marathon ahead of us, nothing had been done to expropriate the land”

The mayor of Athens, spoke to the current (27/3) council of the municipality about the situation regarding the stadium of Panathinaikos in . Harry Duke analysed what is happening on the subject of the Panathinaikos stadium in Botanikos. The mayor of Athens referred to the deficiencies that led to the delay of the project, while stressing that the municipality has a marathon ahead for the construction of the stadium. In detail what he said: For funding: “It was in the air, there was only one pre-approval. It became the critical membership in 2021-2025. The invitation was now made two years later. We have filed a dossier and we await the final approval of the Environment Minister. If we did the work, there was no money, the program had not been approved.” For detergent: “Since 2009 it has been filled with garbage and debris. A pollution contract was awarded, but the money was not sufficient. The place wasn’t cleaned. There was a need for extra funds. The pollution must be done in order for the consortium to proceed. Now this problem is solved. For the field site, the previous contract pushed the debris onto the field site. We need to clean up the debris and then we need the dig. We have secured the necessary funds. We await the ministerial decision to make an additional contract. The joint venture will take care of this, as will construction. Soon they’ll be a bad past. Work is neither simple nor easy.” For building permit: ‘There is no approved, revised. There isn’t. We unblocked the topographic theme and went up on the special platform. We’re trying to work things out. There’s a matter we’re fighting, on the plot there are enough buildings to demolish them too. All this requires systematic work. legislative intervention was needed. We have a legal map to get permission as soon as possible. Looks like a cyceon, but we’ll make it. There must be a demolition permit. They have to go out at the same time. But be careful here. Huge. The demolition permit will simply be issued, not implemented until the stadium is in the Botanical and the operating permit is released. Only then will the Avenue be demolished, when Panathinaikos enters the Botanical to play the first game.” For contracts: “There are 115 secured. And five more. And three for a footbridge. They need contracts for green and road construction. It’s not the area ready, there’s nothing. There must be a lot of work done, helping with the wider change of the Olive. We had a competition for the green and the road. It will be a catalyst for these projects. The stadium is excellent for Panathinaikos and also for the area of Eleonas. The case gets on rails. For technical advisers: “Two are needed. One for the stadium and one for infrastructure projects. We didn’t have them at our disposal. One was found the other is in progress”. For land properties: “There are still scattered plots in the area not belonging to the municipality. Twenty-four acres. They are not currently preventing the issuing of a building permit. There was a decision to buy, but we’re still way behind. Regarding expropriations, there is no budget. It’s five incomplete in evidence lists to understand the progress of acquisitions. They are numerous, 26 plots. Overall throughout the area is 80, close to 130 acres. The work that didn’t happen is choking the play. They all make superhuman efforts. We do important work, we do the dating. So far we have reached compromises with 12. It is obvious that it is an iconic work. It is very important that we are in this position now. We’ve done 100 meters, and it’s ahead. There’s a marathon we need to get out with a sprint. The work had no breath. I have to say that with a very great deal of effort, ten interventions, we have put the work together. I don’t want to go into any more details. I’m not interested in getting into analysis. I don’t want there to be a source of delay. We have what we need to deliver the new jewel pitch. When we breathe a little, when we enter the site, we will talk about the new site and many more things.”