The Nicosia District Licensing Authority (EOA) has provided clarifications regarding the recent demolition of a building at the corner of Arnalda Street and Stasinos Avenue. According to the EOA, the building was not designated as a listed property, and while the Municipality of Nicosia had previously identified several notable buildings for potential preservation, the relevant list submitted to the Town Planning Department did not lead to further action.

In its official statement, the EOA emphasized that under Article 38 of the Town and Country Planning Law, the authority to declare a building as preserved or issue a Preservation Order lies exclusively with the Minister of Interior. The demolition permit for the building in question was granted by the Municipality of Nicosia before the Local Government Reform, which later transferred licensing responsibilities to the EOA.

The statement also highlighted that while the Municipality had identified several architecturally significant buildings and sent a list to the Department of Town Planning and Housing for evaluation, no action was taken to classify these structures as preserved properties.

The Ministry of Interior further explained that the building was never formally submitted for assessment by the Preservation Branch of the Department of Town Planning and Housing. Although it was included in a survey commissioned by the Municipality of Nicosia, the study itself was not legally binding, as the municipality was required to submit a formal request, which did not occur.

Additionally, in 2016, the Municipality of Nicosia developed the Nicosia Center Area Plan, but it did not include the surveyed buildings for official designation as preserved properties.

For buildings outside Special Character Areas or historical cores, a town planning permit is not required for demolition, only a building permit—a responsibility that was transferred from municipalities to the EOA following the Local Government Reform.

To have a building assessed as preserved, a formal application must be submitted by either the property owner(s) or the local authority. The Ministry noted that similar requests were recently made by the Municipalities of Paphos and Limassol, which are currently under review.

Regarding Special Character Areas and historic town centers, the Town Planning Department has the authority to conduct large-scale evaluations of buildings with the consent of the local authority, a process that has been implemented in several cases in the past.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Interior clarified that the demolished building was private property, and as per Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ownership rights are fundamental. This means that property owners have the legal right to develop their land in accordance with existing legislation, without the risk of arbitrary deprivation.

The Cyprus Architects Association has strongly condemned the demolition of the historic Thrasyvoulos Tryfonos residence, calling for enhanced protection mechanisms and improved documentation procedures. The association demands:

• Strengthening preservation mechanisms, including proper staffing for heritage assessment or appointing specialized committees to accelerate the classification of listed buildings.

• Faster and more accessible subsidies for the maintenance of preserved buildings, simplifying application processes and expediting approvals to provide real incentives for property owners.

• Public awareness campaigns to highlight the benefits of preserving historic buildings and encourage property owners to participate in conservation efforts.

• A balanced approach to urban planning, ensuring that development incentives, such as increased building coefficients, go hand in hand with the protection of significant historical structures.

In its statement, the association emphasized that architectural heritage is an integral part of Cyprus' cultural identity and preserving it is both a duty to the past and an investment in the future. It urged the government, stakeholders, and the public to support conservation efforts to ensure that the country's historical and aesthetic legacy is safeguarded for future generations.