Ioannis Konstantatos: The multiple benefits of the investment in the Ellinikon
The Mayor of Hellinikon Argyroupolis talks about the challenges of the emblematic Τhe Ellinikon investment and its significant compensatory benefits for the local community.
- 11/07/2025, 12:13
The prospects, the challenges and the large investment landscape are just some of the areas touched upon in the following interview with the Mayor at Municipality of Hellinikon – Argyroupolis Ioannis Konstantatos. He refers at length to the demands made by the municipality, which were made in the context of good faith and understanding with LAMDA Development, given the development of the Metropolitan Pole of The Ellinikon, bringing significant benefits for the local community.
You are the individual who governs the city in which the emblematic investment of The Ellinikon is being developed. What do you expect and what have you already gained from this investment?
Prior to the commencement of the investment, it is important to recall the situation we faced in 2014, when the elections took place and we assumed office as the municipality’s administration. The history of this area is weighty and complex. The residents who once lived within the airport grounds were displaced for a second time-originally during the Metaxas regime-losing their homes to make way for the airport’s construction. Since then and after many changes that took place in the area, the municipality of Hellinikon and that of Argyroupoli, were intertwined with the airport. The municipality of Hellinikon collected whatever fees there were from the airport, from traffic tickets to advertising fees, without having any other financial income. And while the airport was the engine of the country’s development and we saw other areas grow – such as Faliro, Glyfada and Alimos – Hellinikon was left behind, because it could not acquire a marina, a beach, or any other business activity. Ultimately, after the airport left, the area remained unused for many years, despite any discussions and intentions of development.
Along the way, the proposal came that stated that development would take place in Hellinikon. We ran for election in 2014 and said “yes” to the investment, but under certain conditions. That is where our vision is now placed, which envisaged the arrival of serious entrepreneurs who would bring growth but also provide positive offsets for the local community. We put our demands on the table and achieved quite a bit. Since 2021, when the project began to be implemented, we have collected almost 2.5 million euros from the Property Tax and the land plot fees, which the investor pays in order to be able to build. This is money that was allocated to the municipality’s budget in 2024, without increasing municipal fees.
Beyond the financial benefit, we signed memoranda of understanding with the investor and as a result, significant investments were implemented, such as the building for people with disabilities on Vouliagmenis Avenue, as well as the indoor basketball court, offering more than 300 children the opportunity to train. A series of other moves were also made, such as the municipal veterinary clinic, the municipal physiotherapy center, squares, playgrounds and parks. These investments were part of an agreement between the municipality and the investor, with the logic that the investment should also leave something behind for the local community. This entire vision is in progress, with the Global Center of Pontian Hellenism set to follow, as well as the financing of 2.4 million euros for the study of the city’s new city hall.
When I took office as mayor in 2014, the book value of the municipality’s real estate was approximately 44 million euros. Today, based on the latest valuation, it is close to 350 million euros.
But is everything as rosy as you describe it?
In contrast to the neighboring municipalities, the municipality of Argyroupolis had over 100 structures within the airport. All these structures were transferred without objections and without appeals from the municipality. Any reactions and appeals come from those who just want to make noise and create a stir. The second negative is that there is strong dissatisfaction with the nuisance caused by the excavations and the dust that is created. It is obvious that when a city is dug from one end to the other, this situation will exist. However, I cannot prevent the concrete mixers and workers from entering, when such a large investment is being made. Citizens are currently experiencing new realities in their daily lives, given that 90% of the project is being implemented within the boundaries of our municipality. Residents saw hundreds of trees being cut down as part of the arrangement of the Agia Paraskevi creek, for a project that is necessary in order to avoid future floods. These people saw their neighborhood changing. And while they used to see a green landscape when going out on their balcony, they now see a construction site. This is a huge issue, which we are trying to manage in collaboration with the investors.
What are the priority projects for the municipality at the moment?
A recent decision by the Ministry of Health gives us the opportunity to create the new Health Center of the municipality at the site of the current Hellinikon – Argyroupoli town hall. The aim is to create a modern Health Center, in collaboration with the University of Nicosia, which will operate the first private medical school in Greece in September, in The Ellinikon. We aspire to have at our disposal the model municipal clinics, with the participation of the Ministry of Health, as well as the said academic institution.
Other forthcoming projects include the sports center at Hellinikon Beach. Also, we should note the completion of the beach at Agios Kosmas, which is also being developed by the investor of The El linikon and for which the fellow mayors of Glyfada and Alimos appealed. We are a municipality with out a beach and we are forced to move swimmers outside our borders to swim.
Upcoming projects include the new city hall that will be built next to the building for people with disabilities on Vouliagmenis Avenue and within the area of the Metropolitan Pole of The Ellinikon. The study is in its final stages of completion by the Alexandros Samaras and Associates architectural firm and is expected to be delivered in June. The study is being financed in the form of a donation by Spyro Latsis and is worth 2.4 million euros. I believe that the new building will be one of the most emblematic city halls in Southern Athens.
Published in “White Paper: The Big Business of the South”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the current landscape and future prospects of the Athens Riviera.