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Neapolis
- an
ongoing
dream of
the
future
With the
news of
new
marina
developments
and the
Paphos
to Polis
highway
proposal
receiving
a number
of
bidders
it seems
a
fitting
time to
look at
how
Paphos
has
developed
over the
past 25
years
and to
wonder
at it’s
future
growth.
The
reasons
behind
it’s
change
of
fortune
are many
and the
people
responsible
for the
upturn
can feel
a
certain
amount
of pride
in the
result.
There
are
obviously
things
that
need
addressing
and that
is
hardly
surprising
given
the rate
of
growth
and the
resource
available
to keep
up with
the
trend.
Mayors,
councillors,
entrepreneurs
and
business
men
alike
have all
improved
and
extended
the
facilities
and
general
being of
the town
but it
is
doubtful
that any
one
person
has
contributed
more
than
Michael
Leptos.
In the
1970’s
Paphos
was a
sleepy
fishing
village
with
little
tourism
to talk
of and a
modest
amount
of
commercial
enterprise.
It was
exactly
what a
typical
Mediterranean
fishing
village
should
be.
Quiet,
relaxed
and
quaint.
Its
history
is well
documented
with
stunning
archaeological
sites
depicting
former
glories
which
once
made it
the
islands
capital.
Over the
centuries
the
flourishing
town had
in many
ways
fallen
on hard
times
and it’s
glorious
and
historic
past was
exactly
that.
A past
era,
which
showed
no
significant
signs of
a
revival.
Tourism
was a
meagre
boost to
the
town’s
economy
although
there
was a
hardened
group
who
returned
every
year to
enjoy
the
legendary
Cypriot
hospitality.
A few
small
hotels
accommodated
the
influx
of
summer
suitcases
and
overall
things
were
relatively
stagnant
but ok.
I doubt
anyone
could
foresee
the
changes
which
were to
take
place
except,
perhaps,
Michael
Leptos.
He had a
dream to
restore
Paphos
to
something
like its
former
glory,
an
important
town
boasting
modern
facilities
and an
economy
to
match.
Twenty
five
years or
more
later
and his
influence
is still
projecting
Paphos
to even
greater
heights.
Of
course
there
are
other
developers
and
hoteliers
who have
contributed
a great
deal and
will
without
doubt
continue
to do so
but the
Leptos
legacy
is now
permanently
etched
on the
Paphos
district.
Luxury
hotels,
exclusive
residential
developments,
luxury
villas
and
shopping
centres
to name
but a
few.
Probably
his
finest
achievements
to date
stands
just
outside
the
village
of Tala
and 8
kms
north-west
of
Paphos.
It is
here
that
Michael
Leptos
decided
he would
build a
village.
Not any
village,
a unique
village
of
stunning
villas
with
superb
views
and
Mediterranean
designs
called
Kamares.
At the
time
Tala
claimed
around
180
residents
and the
site of
Kamares
Village
was
nothing
more
than a
barren
hillside
with the
odd goat
claiming
residential
status.
Many
thought
it a
crazy
idea and
wondered
who
would
want to
live
there.
Today
Kamares
is an
international
award
winning
development
thought
by many
experts
to be
one of
the
finest
in the
whole of
the
Mediterranean.
It is a
testament
to his
dogged
determination,
hard
work and
foresight
that
Kamares
remains
a
flagship
not just
for
Leptos
Estates
but for
Paphos.
So who
would
doubt
his
wisdom
in
planning
an even
bigger
project
which
will
have far
reaching
benefits
to the
whole of
Paphos,
Cyprus
and the
international
community.
The
redevelopment
of 111
hectars
of land
south of
Geroskipou,
to be
called
Neapolis,
is
further
proof of
his
desire
to
return
Paphos
to a
status
long
since
past. It
is a
huge
undertaking
with a
hospital,
medical
research
facility,
university,
museums,
green
areas
and
parks,
residential
areas
and
more.
The head
of
Pittsburgh
University
Medical
Research
Centre
recently
called
it a
fantastic
project
with
countless
opportunities
for
Paphos
to both
enjoy
and
benefit
from.
The
design
and
layout
has been
carefully
crafted
and
provides
a
balanced
mix of
cultural
and
leisure
facilities,
office
and
retail,
residential
and
entertainment
along
with
education
and
health
care.
While
the
passage
through
planning
and
permit
stages
has been
accompanied
by
debate
and
concerns
the
project
is
moving
towards
initiation.
There is
nothing
wrong
with
healthy
and
constructive
debate
especially
when
environmental
issues
are at
stake.
Equally
the need
for
controlled
and
innovative
development
should
be high
on every
ones
agenda
to
ensure
quality
and a
unique
environment.
The
scale of
the
project
is such
that the
total
building
time is
estimated
at
between
twelve
and
fifteen
years.
The
International
University
will
have
places
for 3000
local
and
international
students
and the
project
is
expected
to
create
approximately
8000 new
jobs. A
big
undertaking,
but,
Michael
Leptos
has
always
based
his
beliefs
on
optimism,
vision ,
knowledge
and more
importantly
persistence.
We await
the
final
word on
commencement
and long
term the
completion
of such
an
ambitious
project.
Another
revenue
stream
away
from the
tourism
sector
can only
be good
for
Paphos
and
Cyprus.
The
elevation
of the
town to
international
status
bringing
in
academics
and
students
from
around
the
globe is
an
exciting
prospect
and goes
some way
to
fulfilling
the
dream he
had when
Paphos
was in
it’s
sleepy
stage of
mediocrity.
Neapolis,
he says,
is not
designed
as just
another
development
but as a
place to
live,
learn,
work or
visit
but more
importantly
as a
place to
experience.
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