Former 6th Primary School to be turned into Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture
6th Primary School
26 Jan 2023
/ 21:18
CORFU. Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa: The abandoned building, owned by the Hellenic Public Properties Company (ETAD), will become a Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture.
The Regional Authority is planning to turn the abandoned historical monument in Garitsa, which housed the 6th Primary School for 46 years, into a Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture.
The Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa will introduce the issue at tomorrow's Regional Council meeting, in order to approve the concession of the property, owned by the Hellenic Public Properties Company (ETAD), to the Ionian Islands Region.
The Regional Council had discussed about this building, which is located at Mitropolitou Athanasiou St., at another meeting on 27 November 2021, where it was decided to negotiate with ETAD, in order to ensure the best possible terms for the payment of the instalments of the concession fee by the Ionian Islands Region following the decision taken by the Finance Committee.
For 25 years and €300,000
The Finance Committee's decision provides for the concession of the building to the Region for 25 years - in accordance with the legislation - for €300,000, which will be paid in 25 annual instalments of €12,000.
This had caused a strong reaction from the ANASA leader and former Regional Governor Theodoros Galiatsatos, who said that the agreement was against the Region, and demanded the concession for free and indefinitely, as had happened during his term of office with Villa Rossa and the building of the Former Court.
However, as Mrs. Kratsa told Enimerosi, based on ministerial decisions and according to law, ETAD has no right to grant a property for free. "It is worth reminding that Villa Rosa was also granted for a lump sum. Now there is a law in force which stipulates that no concession can be made for free," said the Ionian Islands Regional Governor.
The utilisation
The Regional Authority's planning for the utilisation of the property involves the creation of a Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture and a suitable space for the preservation and promotion of archival material relating to the culture and history of the Ionian Islands. However, the Region will be required to repair and upgrade the building, which remains in poor condition for years, as well as the surrounding area within 6 years from the signing of the contract.
As Mrs. Kratsa told Enimerosi, the Region has already submitted a proposal for funding by the 'Antonis Tritsis' programme, but it has not been examined yet.
"If not approved, it will be included in the ESPA 2021-2027 programme to enable the planning to be implemented. This is an important building on the Garitsa shore road that is however abandoned and dangerous to the neighbourhood. We believe that its new use will be good for the promotion and study of the Ionian Islands' history", she said, adding that this museum will also be able to be used by the other Ionian Islands as it will be digital.
The building
This emblematic building was built between 1900-1903. It is a two-storey 363.78 m² building located on a 865.45 m² plot of land. At first, it was the house of the Kolla family. From 1940 to 1943, the building housed the Albanian Consulate. From 1946 to 1992 it became a primary school and from 1993 to 1995 a secondary school. With the relocation of the schools, the property, which was declared by ministerial decision as a listed monument, was abandoned.
In September 2000, by decision of the Hellenic Public Real Estate Company (KED), the concession of the property to the Ionian Islands Region was approved for free and for an indefinite period of time. In 2003, the original concession was amended by a decision of the KED Board. The concession was made on the condition that the restoration work would be carried out under the exclusive care, responsibility and expense of the Ionian Islands Region and would be completed within 3 years from the date that the concession was amended.
However, no action was taken by the Region then to implement the concession. In 2017, ETAD addressed the new Region regarding the progress of the implementation of the concession.
The new Region expressed its interest in this building, submitting a request to ETAD, which is the current owner of the property, for its concession, in order to repair and upgrade it to house the Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture.
ETAD responded positively and following negotiations, they concluded to the 25-year concession for €300,000 in total, which will be paid in 25 annual instalments of €12,000, while the project has to be implemented within 6 years.
The Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa will introduce the issue at tomorrow's Regional Council meeting, in order to approve the concession of the property, owned by the Hellenic Public Properties Company (ETAD), to the Ionian Islands Region.
The Regional Council had discussed about this building, which is located at Mitropolitou Athanasiou St., at another meeting on 27 November 2021, where it was decided to negotiate with ETAD, in order to ensure the best possible terms for the payment of the instalments of the concession fee by the Ionian Islands Region following the decision taken by the Finance Committee.
For 25 years and €300,000
The Finance Committee's decision provides for the concession of the building to the Region for 25 years - in accordance with the legislation - for €300,000, which will be paid in 25 annual instalments of €12,000.
This had caused a strong reaction from the ANASA leader and former Regional Governor Theodoros Galiatsatos, who said that the agreement was against the Region, and demanded the concession for free and indefinitely, as had happened during his term of office with Villa Rossa and the building of the Former Court.
However, as Mrs. Kratsa told Enimerosi, based on ministerial decisions and according to law, ETAD has no right to grant a property for free. "It is worth reminding that Villa Rosa was also granted for a lump sum. Now there is a law in force which stipulates that no concession can be made for free," said the Ionian Islands Regional Governor.
The utilisation
The Regional Authority's planning for the utilisation of the property involves the creation of a Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture and a suitable space for the preservation and promotion of archival material relating to the culture and history of the Ionian Islands. However, the Region will be required to repair and upgrade the building, which remains in poor condition for years, as well as the surrounding area within 6 years from the signing of the contract.
As Mrs. Kratsa told Enimerosi, the Region has already submitted a proposal for funding by the 'Antonis Tritsis' programme, but it has not been examined yet.
"If not approved, it will be included in the ESPA 2021-2027 programme to enable the planning to be implemented. This is an important building on the Garitsa shore road that is however abandoned and dangerous to the neighbourhood. We believe that its new use will be good for the promotion and study of the Ionian Islands' history", she said, adding that this museum will also be able to be used by the other Ionian Islands as it will be digital.
The building
This emblematic building was built between 1900-1903. It is a two-storey 363.78 m² building located on a 865.45 m² plot of land. At first, it was the house of the Kolla family. From 1940 to 1943, the building housed the Albanian Consulate. From 1946 to 1992 it became a primary school and from 1993 to 1995 a secondary school. With the relocation of the schools, the property, which was declared by ministerial decision as a listed monument, was abandoned.
In September 2000, by decision of the Hellenic Public Real Estate Company (KED), the concession of the property to the Ionian Islands Region was approved for free and for an indefinite period of time. In 2003, the original concession was amended by a decision of the KED Board. The concession was made on the condition that the restoration work would be carried out under the exclusive care, responsibility and expense of the Ionian Islands Region and would be completed within 3 years from the date that the concession was amended.
However, no action was taken by the Region then to implement the concession. In 2017, ETAD addressed the new Region regarding the progress of the implementation of the concession.
The new Region expressed its interest in this building, submitting a request to ETAD, which is the current owner of the property, for its concession, in order to repair and upgrade it to house the Digital Museum of Ionian History and Culture.
ETAD responded positively and following negotiations, they concluded to the 25-year concession for €300,000 in total, which will be paid in 25 annual instalments of €12,000, while the project has to be implemented within 6 years.
