Is Hydra Protected? The objective of this article is to inform interested people, of a specific plan that is being proposed for a large-scale tourist development at the edge of Kamini settlement on Hydra (site previously owned by Richard Branson). We request, those who read this information, that if they are so concerned, to respond by voicing their opinions, to the addresses given below and send a copy to savehydra@yahoo.ca

Large Scale Development Proposal

Proposal: To build 53 separate units for a hotel project in an agricultural area at the edge of Kamini settlement on the inland way to Vlichos.

Proposal by: Hotels Hellas Hydra owned and operated by Polemis a Greek ship owner based in London.

Architect: Alexandros Tombazis, a highly eminent and respected professional.

Record of Proposal: Four applications were presented to the First Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, official body of the Ministry of Culture, responsible for Hydra (24/06/04, 08/09/04, 15/03/05, and 21/03/05).

17/05/05 the First Ephorate observed that such a development in an agricultural area, which has always been the natural edge of town, would be injurious to the physiognomy of Hydra settlement. This proposal for town development with contemporary criteria, does not conform with a protected historical settlement which is listed as a monument and an archaeological site.

19/10/05 Proposal on the agenda of the meeting of the Central Archaeological Council together with two other large development proposals (in Avlaki on the coastal road between Hydra and Kamini). The council postponed the meeting due to the absence of the Architect of the Kamini project.

20/12/05 Project was presented alone. At the meeting the owner and Architect were present. Also present in opposition were:
The Architectural Association of Greece, represented by Professor of Architecture at the N.T.U.A. Eleni Maistrou, who was also representing herself as a member of a team who made a proposal for Hydra, for the Ministry of the Environment, concerning the Hydra Town Plan. The Council of Architectural Heritage of the Elliniki Etaireia (the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and the Cultural Heritage) represented by architect-planner Iosif Efremidis, the Ecological Association of Hydra, represented by its president Manolis Tsakiris and members, Giannis Lyras owner of an adjoining property represented by his attorney.
The Central Archaeological Council postponed their decision to a later date demanding further clarification from the developers regarding the property in relation to the town limits of Hydra.

OBSERVATIONS
The site of the proposed development is and always was agricultural land.
This is the same site that was previously owned by Richard Branson’s Virgin, whose proposal for a similar project was turned down by the Central Government over a decade ago.

The official town plan is seen to be poorly drawn and unnecessarily vague, especially considering that the area under concern is a declared and listed, protected historical and living monument and archaeological site.

Although the present archaeological law is stricter than it was a decade ago, it does seem to be protecting and guiding the development of Hydra which has taken a real estate market direction. For the law to work it is necessary, as the First Ephorate proposed, that a legal framework be formed to account for the particularities of the Hydra settlements and landscape. The special building regulations which the Archaeological law dictates have not been formulated.

This gap in legislation allows for many infringements of the guidelines for protection, such as:
Three story buildings (i.e. basement + 2 stories).
Building on agricultural land.
Partitioning of the hillside landscapes to create new plots.
Hiding Hydra churches which were the landmarks of the town.
Cutting the rock with machinery light and heavy.
This large-scale proposal of a hotel consisting of 53 buildings in the valley if approved sets a precedent, which would encourage a wide-scale and irreversibly damaging development of the entire island.

Please send your responses to the following Greek Ministry of Culture addresses and a copy of your response to savehydra@yahoo.ca

Minister http://culture.gr/2/20/minister.html
Geogious A. Voulgarakis
Secretariat
tel.:+30-210-82.01.648,82.01.649
fax:+30-210-82.01.435
20-22 Bouboulinas Str., 106 82 Athens
e-mail: protocol@minoff.culture.gr & minister@culture.gr

Deputy Minister http://culture.gr/2/20/deputy-minister.html
Petros Tatoulis
Secretariat
Latani Ioanna, Lytra Vasiliki
tel: +30 210-82.01.656, +30 210-82.01.489
E-mail: ptatoulis@minoff.culture.gr
20-22, Bouboulinas Str. 106 82 Athens
General Secretary: Christos Zachopoulos
General Secretary's Office
tel.: +30-210-82.01.444, 82.01.658
fax: +30-210-82.01.353
20-22 Bouboulinas Str., 106 82 Athens
e-mail: protocol@gsecoff.culture.gr. gensec@culture.gr