An ongoing feud between the Alimos municipality, in coastal southeast Athens, and a beachfront cafe/bar took an unusual turn this week, with the township placing dilapidated vehicles to block patrons’ view of the sea.
Cranes planted old cars and buses to the front of the bar’s sea view on what the city maintains is municipal property, essentially a narrow strip of greenspace before the beach line begins.
Instead of the usual view of the azure Saronic Gulf, patrons at the beachside establishment were “treated” to junk heaps “masquerading” as modern metallic art.
Lawsuits were subsequently filed by both sides – the municipality and the business’s owners – with police finally intervening.
The dispute between beachfront venues and the municipality of Alimos, especially the small district’s mayor, has been long-standing, with the latter pressing of a clean-up of the coastline, while business operators argue that the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Public Properties Co. (HPPC), a holding company established to better manage and exploit the Greek state’s real estate assets.
Affected business owners have also accused the mayor of favoring competitors.
Following the incident on Thursday, the case is expected to reach courtrooms and generated an official response by HPPC.
