Works on Yiallinas Art Gallery building halted
Yiallinas Art Gallery
01 Sep 2022
/ 21:38
CORFU. Works on the Yiallinas building have been halted for two months. The contractor has requested an extension of the deadline.
Work on the restoration and reopening of the Aggelos Yiallinas Art Gallery - a listed building - in Upper Square has been put to a halt in the last few months.
The Deputy Minister for Culture Nikos Yiatromanolakis, along with the Mayor Meropi Ydraiou, went yesterday to see the works on the building, which have currently stopped, as there is still a contract for a sub-project that needs to be signed. The contractor has requested a six-month extension, as the relevant legislation allows. As a result, the project is not moving forward.
For the past two months work has been halted, giving the impression that the optimistic project to bring this unique building back to life has been abandoned.
The Deputy Mayor for Technical Works Nikos Kalogeros told Enimerosi that the contractor is still in the project, but the works have stopped until the contract for the sub-project is signed between the Central Corfu Municipality and another company. The contract, as Mr. Kalogeros explained, was not made from the beginning as it was not mandatory, but later the law changed and now it is necessary. "The contract will be signed soon. The Managing Authority has approved the funds to sign the contract. We are interested in the restoration of the Yiallinas Art Gallery building and we are closely monitoring the project. But it is a difficult and challenging one," he said.
Use of the law
The contractor submitted an application to the Municipality on June 6 requesting that a six-month extension be given, making use of the law, to address the increase in the price of materials and the completion of public contracts for as long as the energy crisis continues (no more than six months). "The request for an extension was accepted by the Finance Committee, as according to the law we are obliged to give the extension," explained Mr. Kalogeros, clarifying that the extension will be valid until 11 December.
The Mayor Meropi Ydraiou informed yesterday Mr. Yiatromanolakis about the Yiallinas building and the progress of the project, even though the subject of the project is not his responsibility.
ESPA programme
This monument with the great history that is patiently waiting to find its lost glory again was included in the ESPA programme in 2018 by the former Ionian Islands Regional Governor Theodoros Galiatsatos with a budget of €5,036,260. In June 2019, the contract was signed for the implementation of the project by the Ministry of Culture, the Central Corfu Municipality and the Aggelos Yiallinas Foundation and then all procedures for the tender of the project were carried out by the Municipality's Technical Works Department.
Last November
The project started being implemented last November. Mrs. Ydraiou and Mr. Kalogeros inspected the building on 21 January 2022 and found out that the project was proceeding smoothly and without any delays, there was no outstanding technical or financial issues and the work was being carried out according to the schedule.
Unfortunately, however, the building's current image is unfinished. Residents of the area said that they see only one person but without any work being done. Only the fence that has been placed around the building and two signs remind us that a project is being carried out.
Behind the fence, one can see grass growing on the walls and steps, a truck permanently parked there, sacks full of removed materials and the once imposing building behind.
What is planned
There will be removals and restoration works, while both the interior of the building and the surrounding area will be renovated. Once completed, the building will be put to new uses. The ground floor of the Art Gallery will have a restaurant and will be used for educational, recreational and commercial purposes. The first floor will be the main exhibition area with paintings by Angelos Yialinas. The collection consists of 586 works, watercolours and oil paintings, which are divided into 16 thematic sections.
The second floor will be a multi-use area, while the top floor is to be used for administration and storage.
The new deadline for the completion of the project is December 2023.
The Deputy Minister for Culture Nikos Yiatromanolakis, along with the Mayor Meropi Ydraiou, went yesterday to see the works on the building, which have currently stopped, as there is still a contract for a sub-project that needs to be signed. The contractor has requested a six-month extension, as the relevant legislation allows. As a result, the project is not moving forward.
For the past two months work has been halted, giving the impression that the optimistic project to bring this unique building back to life has been abandoned.
The Deputy Mayor for Technical Works Nikos Kalogeros told Enimerosi that the contractor is still in the project, but the works have stopped until the contract for the sub-project is signed between the Central Corfu Municipality and another company. The contract, as Mr. Kalogeros explained, was not made from the beginning as it was not mandatory, but later the law changed and now it is necessary. "The contract will be signed soon. The Managing Authority has approved the funds to sign the contract. We are interested in the restoration of the Yiallinas Art Gallery building and we are closely monitoring the project. But it is a difficult and challenging one," he said.
Use of the law
The contractor submitted an application to the Municipality on June 6 requesting that a six-month extension be given, making use of the law, to address the increase in the price of materials and the completion of public contracts for as long as the energy crisis continues (no more than six months). "The request for an extension was accepted by the Finance Committee, as according to the law we are obliged to give the extension," explained Mr. Kalogeros, clarifying that the extension will be valid until 11 December.
The Mayor Meropi Ydraiou informed yesterday Mr. Yiatromanolakis about the Yiallinas building and the progress of the project, even though the subject of the project is not his responsibility.
ESPA programme
This monument with the great history that is patiently waiting to find its lost glory again was included in the ESPA programme in 2018 by the former Ionian Islands Regional Governor Theodoros Galiatsatos with a budget of €5,036,260. In June 2019, the contract was signed for the implementation of the project by the Ministry of Culture, the Central Corfu Municipality and the Aggelos Yiallinas Foundation and then all procedures for the tender of the project were carried out by the Municipality's Technical Works Department.
Last November
The project started being implemented last November. Mrs. Ydraiou and Mr. Kalogeros inspected the building on 21 January 2022 and found out that the project was proceeding smoothly and without any delays, there was no outstanding technical or financial issues and the work was being carried out according to the schedule.
Unfortunately, however, the building's current image is unfinished. Residents of the area said that they see only one person but without any work being done. Only the fence that has been placed around the building and two signs remind us that a project is being carried out.
Behind the fence, one can see grass growing on the walls and steps, a truck permanently parked there, sacks full of removed materials and the once imposing building behind.
What is planned
There will be removals and restoration works, while both the interior of the building and the surrounding area will be renovated. Once completed, the building will be put to new uses. The ground floor of the Art Gallery will have a restaurant and will be used for educational, recreational and commercial purposes. The first floor will be the main exhibition area with paintings by Angelos Yialinas. The collection consists of 586 works, watercolours and oil paintings, which are divided into 16 thematic sections.
The second floor will be a multi-use area, while the top floor is to be used for administration and storage.
The new deadline for the completion of the project is December 2023.
