How Piraeus Street is transformed – The most important projects

Ardin is expected to change in the coming years Piraeus, from the barrage of new buildings, renovations and reconstructions that are in the works. It is an area of extremely “disturbed” and decadent, as it numbers a large number of factories, which over the years were abandoned. Today, however, powerful groups have targeted Piraeus Street, investing important funds in order to give it fresh air and image. The most indicative example is the large investment made by Noval of the Biohalco Group in 252 Piraeus Street in the old premises of the Group. This complex consists of 25 industrial buildings, a total area of 43,868 sq.m., on a plot of 72,568 sq.m., using storage, offices and industrial sites, and includes two preserved buildings. This project aims to create an emerging ‘Design District’, which will be transformed into a complex tourist, cultural, conference, commercial and business pole with a sustainable character. In particular, the planned investment is expected to include uses of offices, houses, hotels, cultural, technology – research and storage of a total GLA surface which will reach 56,740 sq mi. Additional 3,500 sq.m. sports facilities are also planned and underground parking spaces 22.620 sq.m. For this project the authorisation procedure is estimated to take about a year and a half to complete it, as the adoption of the relevant Presidential Decree is currently preceded. By June it is expected that the former Athens Heart shopping centre will be completed into a “green” office building by Premia Properties, which will then be leased entirely to AADE. This is another major investment of AEPAP in the region, as the reconstruction of the former Athens Heart has cost a total of 30m euros. Until, however, it is delivered to AADE, the goal of the administration is to give the new building, which will be certified under LEED Gold, a new name. At the same time, a small piece of land has been acquired, on which another office space is already erected, which will communicate with the main building via bridge. Another investment that changes significantly in the area is the conversion of the former VELKA textile factory into a mixed complex of buildings that includes offices and a large part of it will concern high quality housing. The project is undertaken by 3V, owner of the property, in which Dimand and Avax Development, subsidiary of the ABax group are now involved. The property has great advantages of access, due to its proximity to main roads (National Roads of Athens- Lamia, Athens- Corinth, Poseidon Avenue), but also on transport networks such as the subway, via the New Faliro Station, located right in front of the property. An important share in Piraeus’ development is expected to be in Athens as the company aims to rebuild the buildings of the historic road. In the coming months, the competition will be announced in order to declare the body implementing the project, but the municipalities of Athens, Taurus, Muscat, Renti, Piraeus are already in agreement with the creation of a programme contract. The new building of the General Secretariat of Infrastructure, on Piraeus Street 166, is also another project that is in the works. It is the new bioclimatic building, with its total value exceeding EUR 139 million, having a completion horizon in 2027. The new “green” complex will unite all the services of the General Infrastructure Secretariat, which are housed in 13 scattered rented buildings, under one single roof.