Editing Thessaloniki (section)

===Thessaloniki 2012 Programme===
[[File:Thessaloniki waterfront - Greece - panoramio.jpg|thumb|200px|Aerial view of the newest section of the promenade (Nea Paralia), which was opened to the public in January 2014]]

With the 100th anniversary of the 1912 incorporation of Thessaloniki into Greece, the government announced a large-scale redevelopment programme for the city of Thessaloniki, which aims in addressing the current environmental and spatial problems<ref name="2012-1">[http://government.gov.gr/2010/09/22/1937/ Hellenic Government – Thessaloniki 2012 Program] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519153237/http://government.gov.gr/2010/09/22/1937/ |date=19 May 2011 }} (in Greek)</ref> that the city faces. More specifically, the programme will drastically change the physiognomy of the city<ref name="2012-1"/> by relocating the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre and grounds of the [[Thessaloniki International Fair]] outside the city centre and turning the current location into a large metropolitan park,<ref name="2012-2">[http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ojoG1PRSCZg%3d&tabid=367 Ministry of the Environment, of Energy and of Climate Change – Complete presentation] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721084132/http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ojoG1PRSCZg=&tabid=367 |date=21 July 2011 }} (in Greek)</ref> redeveloping the coastal front of the city,<ref name="2012-2"/> relocating the city's numerous military camps and using the grounds and facilities to create large parklands and cultural centres;<ref name="2012-2"/> and the complete redevelopment of the harbour and the ''Lachanokipoi'' and ''Dendropotamos'' districts (behind and near the [[Port of Thessaloniki]]) into a commercial business district,<ref name="2012-2"/> with possible [[skyscraper|highrise]] developments.<ref>{{cite news |title=Σε επιχειρηματικό πάρκο μεταμορφώνονται οι Λαχανόκηποι ("Laxanokipoi is transformed into business district") |url=http://boreia.gr/index.php?module=news&func=display&sid=11225 |access-date=8 August 2011 |newspaper=VORIA.gr |date=26 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327155827/http://boreia.gr/index.php?module=news&func=display&sid=11225 |archive-date=27 March 2012 }}</ref>

The plan also envisions the creation of new wide avenues in the outskirts of the city<ref name="2012-2"/> and the creation of pedestrian-only zones in the city centre.<ref name="2012-2"/> Furthermore, the program includes plans to expand the jurisdiction of ''Seich Sou'' Forest National Park<ref name="2012-1"/> and the improvement of accessibility to and from the Old Town.<ref name="2012-1"/> The ministry has said that the project will take an estimated 15 years to be completed, in 2025.<ref name="2012-2"/>

Part of the plan has been implemented with extensive pedestrianisations within the city centre by the municipality of Thessaloniki and the revitalisation the eastern urban waterfront/promenade, {{Lang|el|Νέα Παραλία}} ({{Lang|el-Latn|Néa Paralía|italic=yes}}, <small>lit.</small> new promenade), with a modern and vibrant design. Its first section opened in 2008, having been awarded as the best public project in Greece of the last five years by the Hellenic Institute of Architecture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.makthes.gr/news/arts/36883/ |title=ΝΕΑ ΠΑΡΑΛΙΑ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗΣ Καινούργια και βραβευμένη! – Εφημερίδα Μακεδονία της Θεσσαλονίκης |publisher=Makthes.gr |access-date=19 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616005026/http://www.makthes.gr/news/arts/36883/ |archive-date=16 June 2013 }}</ref>

The municipality of Thessaloniki's budget for the reconstruction of important areas of the city and the completion of the waterfront, opened in January 2014, was estimated at {{currency|28.2|EUR}} million ({{currency|39.9|USD}} million) for the year 2011 alone.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.makthes.gr/news/reportage/71129/ |script-title=el:Στα 28 εκατ. ευρώ το τεχνικό πρόγραμμα του δήμου |newspaper=Makedonia |location=Thessaloniki |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=25 March 2011 |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906162343/http://www.makthes.gr/news/reportage/71129/ |archive-date=6 September 2012 }}</ref>