Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni

The conflict over building heights in Athens took on a new twist on Friday with the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) sending an out-of-court notice threatening lawsuits against the mayors of Alimos and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, who have imposed a suspension of the issuance of construction permits that make use of bonuses included in the building regulation. 

Kifissia in northern Athens is the latest municipality to join the front against a bonus included in the building regulation which enables the construction of higher buildings.

In a unanimous decision on Thursday, Kifissia's municipal council requested the suspension of the issuance of new building permits making use of the bonuses.

Following in the footsteps of Alimos in southern Athens, the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni instructed its planning department on Tuesday not to issue building permits that make use of the bonuses provided in the building regulation allowing taller buildings. 

Island municipalities issued the largest number of new building permits in 2023, with the top five comprising Lefkada and Zakynthos in the Ionian, Paros and Naxos in the Cyclades, and the Dodecanese island of Rhodes, according to the National Statistical Service of Greece (ELSTAT). 

Attica local authorities are putting an end to the issuance of building permits with height and square footage bonuses, as provided for in the New Building Regulations.

The Metropolitan Expo center, near Athens airport, is this year preparing for the largest Posidonia international shipping fair ever. So are the capital's hotels and party venues.

The concession of the necessary land for the creation of an "urban promenade" along Athens' southern coastal avenue was sealed on Monday with an agreement between the Hellenic Public Properties Company (ETAD), and the Region of Attica.

A 63-year-old Greek-Syrian shipowner was found dead at his home in the southern Athenian suburb of Voula on Thursday.

According to information, shortly before 4 p.m., his wife and a security guard found his body in the basement next to a carbine.

Estimates indicate that the cause of death was suicide.

Flooding has been reported on a number of streets in Athens as Storm Daniel, which has caused havoc in many parts of the country for the past three days, reached the capital.

The rainfall began in the morning but by 4 p.m., the situation had deteriorated in many areas, with heavy downpours and intense lightening in the capital and Piraeus.

Grivalia Hospitality aspires to turn the "Voula Project" into one of the most luxurious private clubs in the Mediterranean and to introduce the concept of glamping to the Greek capital with its 50-million-euro investment in the seaside plot of 45,000 square meters on the Athens Riviera.