A decade after grand plans were announced for the redevelopment of the former La Coute Ta seaside venue in the heart of Larnaca's Mackenzie tourist district, the site remains dormant and derelict.
The project, presented at a press conference in August 2016 by a foreign investor, envisioned the transformation of the beachfront plot next to the popular Kastella Beach into a major leisure and tourism destination.
Among the proposals were a luxury seafood restaurant, water sports facilities with a beach bar, an artificial island in the shape of Cyprus and, at a later stage, a luxury hotel on the opposite side of the road connected to the beach by a pedestrian bridge.
Ten years on, however, none of those plans have materialised.
Instead, visitors are confronted by an unfinished structure overlooking one of the city's busiest beaches, a sight that has repeatedly drawn criticism from residents and local media and raised concerns about the area's image as a tourist destination.
Building erected without permits, former official says
Former Director of Technical Services at Larnaca Municipality, Andreas Karakatsanis, told Politis that the investor initially began alterations to the old licensed building on the site.
However, after demolishing the original structure and commencing construction of the current unfinished building, located within the coastal protection zone, the works allegedly proceeded without any permits.
Karakatsanis said that, to the best of his knowledge, applications submitted by the investor seeking planning derogations remain pending before the municipality.
The result, he noted, is that no workable solution has been found either to develop the property or to demolish it and restore the coastline.
Asked whether there had been any recent developments or interest from another investor in purchasing and redeveloping the site, Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said he was unaware of any such interest at this stage.
Site recently became makeshift car park
Today, a decade after the original announcement, the area around the unfinished building is overgrown with weeds and litter.
In recent months, the site had also been converted into an informal and unauthorised parking area used by beachgoers.
Following complaints, municipal authorities took steps to block vehicle access, but the broader problem of visual pollution remains unresolved.
Prime tourist location remains blighted
Pedestrians using the nearby promenade and motorists passing through the area continue to encounter what many regard as an unacceptable sight on a daily basis.
The site is located just metres from organised municipal beaches, hotels, tourist apartments, restaurants and businesses that form part of Larnaca's tourism infrastructure.
For now, no definitive decisions appear to have been taken regarding the future of the beachfront property.
What is clear, however, is that the condition of the site remains a source of embarrassment and a stark contrast to the ambitious vision presented a decade ago.
