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A Lebanese investor is threatening legal action after the Department of Antiquities blocked a €115 million development near the historic Nicosia walls, despite other authorities initially supporting the project, according to Kathimerini's Dorita Yiannakou.
At a press conference, businessman Wahid P. Chammas, who owns Nerofarm Properties, said he purchased the land near Famagusta Gate with official encouragement and spent eight years on studies and approvals. However, the Department of Antiquities now refuses to grant final consent, arguing the 22-storey complex could damage the nearby Venetian walls.
“All the authorities are in favor, except one,” Chammas said, accusing the department of ignoring legal procedures and refusing to meet with him.
The point of contention are the walls across the street (seen here) from where the company wants to build
A Project Stuck in Limbo
The proposed development includes a 58-room hotel and 116 pay-as-you-rent apartments, aiming to revitalize the area while respecting cultural heritage, according to the investor. He also argued that the department’s eight-storey limit for the zone would actually harm the area by reducing green spaces and forcing a denser, less sustainable design.
The Department of Antiquities, however, has refused to budge. “Since 2017, every time we reached out, the answer was just ‘no,’” Chammas said.
Legal Fight on the Horizon?
Frustrated by the delays, Chammas said he is willing to wait another six months before pursuing legal action. His options include appealing the decision, demanding compensation, or taking the case to the Cabinet.
“I don’t want a legal battle—I want to build something beautiful and useful,” he said. “But if they refuse to even meet with us, what choice do we have?”
He also questioned why other high-rise buildings exist nearby, suggesting the project is being unfairly singled out. “This is about equal treatment,” he said.
What’s Next?
Chammas hinted that if the project is ultimately blocked, he will demand his money back and pursue legal action to recover losses.
“We followed the rules, invested time and money, and now they’re telling us we can’t use our property,” he said.
With the clock ticking, the battle over development vs. heritage protection in Nicosia is heating up—raising big questions about the future of urban growth in the historic capital.
