Athens, 2 February 2026
Growthfund considers its duty to set the record straight in response to inaccurate and misleading claims circulated by the Municipality of Kalamaria regarding the international tender for the development of Kalamaria tourist port (Aretsou Marina), launched on 15 December 2025.
For the record, a joint meeting was held between the Municipality of Kalamaria’s administration and Growthfund, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of National Economy and Finance. At that meeting, specific provisions in the tender terms were expressly agreed and accepted by the Municipality of Kalamaria, and these are binding on all parties involved.
Although an agreement was reached, and Growthfund and the Ministry responded promptly to the Municipality’s requests, the Municipality of Kalamaria chose to take legal action, which has delayed the project at a direct cost to the people of Kalamaria.
Questioning what has already been agreed runs counter to the principles of institutional responsibility and the standards of modern governance that should guide local government.
The following was agreed:
– The Preferred Investor is required to restore the former main building of the Greek National Tourism Organization (Remezzo) and to incorporate activities such as the Municipality of Kalamaria’s public library. Recognizing the site’s historical significance for Pontic Hellenism, Growthfund has accepted a request by previous municipal administrations and has included the creation of a related museum at the Marina.
– If, by the time binding offers are submitted, a hotel has been licensed within one kilometre of the Marina, the planned hotel development with long-term rental apartments within the Marina’s land zone will not go ahead.
In addition, responding to the Municipality’s concerns, Growthfund reduced the building coefficient by 50%, limiting buildings to two storeys and ensuring in every way free and unrestricted public access for residents and visitors to green, sports and recreation areas.
The Municipality of Kalamaria and the Region of Central Macedonia took an active, formal part in the consultation on the Strategic Development Plan (Master Plan) and the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, both of which have been approved by the competent State bodies.
Kalamaria Marina is a landmark for Kalamaria and for Thessaloniki as a whole. Throughout the preparation of the tender, Growthfund took seriously all concerns raised by both the municipal authorities and the local community and made substantial adjustments to the plans.
However, public debate must be based on facts – not on false photorealistic images or selective or misleading readings of the Marina development plan, which give citizens the wrong impression.
Growthfund remains firmly committed to turning Kalamaria Marina into a modern landmark for the area, through low-impact, sustainable development that brings clear benefits to residents, visitors and the city’s public life.