The old Polis Chrysochous municipal market building is to be demolished after standing empty and unused for years, it was reported on Thursday.
The proposal came from mayor Yiotis Papachristofis with the unanimous support of the municipal council.
“The old market has stood empty for close to twenty years and it has proven an unviable location for businesses,” Papachristofis told the Cyprus Mail.
He added that despite the municipality charging a very low rent, vendors and farmers had abandoned the market as a venue over the years, particularly after the advent of supermarkets.
The building, constructed in 1967, had been abuzz with vendors from the surrounding villages during its heyday, when it operated as a farmers cooperative, including the Friends’ Hospice charity bookshop (formerly the Polis Bookshop).
According to the mayor, the building, abandoned since 2007, “has no architectural value and essentially burdens the image of the area.”
The previous municipal council had voted against the demolition and three proposals then submitted had been rejected, amid calls for the building to be replaced by other venues that could be rented to leisure centres and restaurants.
“The decision has now been taken to use the building site to expand the open seating area of the town square, and so draw more patrons to existing longstanding businesses,” the mayor said.
The move comes as part of an overall plan for the revitalisation of Polis, the municipality’s historical centre, and neighbouring Prodromi and Latchi.
Among other works envisioned Papachristofis said the building of an amphitheatre was expected in 2025.
Improved pedestrian streets in Polis and Latchi, parks, playgrounds and sanitation buildings had already been completed, he said.
