Audit service sounds alarm on Nicosia’s 14-year eye sore

A half-finished building on Spyros Kyprianou Avenue in Nicosia has stood as a city eyesore for 14 years, drawing the Audit Service’s criticism and raising broader questions about how Cyprus handles unfinished construction.

In a memorandum released Thursday, Auditor General Andreas Papakonstantinou outlined what he called a “perennial problem” in the capital and across the island: projects that drag on for years without consequences for owners. The specific Nicosia building, originally approved in 2011, has changed hands, had multiple permits renewed, and seen numerous modifications, but still remains incomplete.

“The competent authority and the state have an increased responsibility, especially in key roads and city centers, to ensure control, aesthetics, and safety,” Papakonstantinou said. He also pointed out that, despite fences and railings, the site is not fully secured; in the past, a human body was discovered on the premises.

The unfinished structure, originally planned as an eight-story building with shops, apartments, offices, and underground parking, has deviated from approved plans several times. Metal frames were added above ground without proper permission, and the building’s design was altered to accommodate different uses for floors and ground-level spaces.

Authorities say delays are due to updating the building to meet current safety and fire regulations, but the Audit Service argues the local administration has mostly played a passive role, simply renewing permits in hopes that owners will eventually finish the project. No fines have been issued, and owners have faced no financial consequences despite the prolonged delay.

Papakonstantinou said the situation has broader consequences: “It damages the city’s image, negatively affects neighboring properties, creates visual pollution, and raises public health risks.”

The memorandum calls for stricter enforcement of existing laws and more proactive oversight. It also recommends revisiting legislation to give authorities clearer tools, such as defining “unfinished buildings,” setting time limits on permit validity, and tying renewals to measurable progress.

Cyprus is not alone in this challenge. Similar unfinished projects exist across the island, highlighting a systemic issue in urban planning enforcement, according to the Audit Service.

“Flexibility and facilitation for owners should never become the default,” the memorandum reads, “especially when the result is 14 years of neglect without accountability.”