A not so worrying development

[George]

'Such depressing news. What a dreadful shame. Thankyou Santa for the update.

Travellingran.'

If you need a shoulder...

It's all gone very quiet!  

george g...

[Mike G]

Yes - Thanks Santa. From what you've said, all looks set fair for the coming season. Roll on September  

My deasr friends-
I just returned from Plakias and I do not have good news- First there is still more work to be done on the main road into town, but more importantly, construction has begun on the site west of the road before Paligremnos- The site is fenced  and in the two weeks I was gone they have begun excavation and infact on building(don't know what it is)has started to be framed - There is also a construction trailor on the site.
So, here we go-

Santa

Most regulars to this site go to Plakias because we find it really special and virtually unique (what other resort has a dedicated website like this?). However, most of us go to other places as well and the "Powers That Be" in Plakias ought to be aware that if they allow the resort to be spoiled by uncontrolled development we will go elsewhere. Plakias wouldn't be the first resort to suffer this fate and find that regulars desert (e.g. Skala, Kefalonia?).

All resorts change over time but my perception is that Plakias is changing faster than the others. What do other forum members think?

Mike

[George]

All resorts change over time but my perception is that Plakias is changing faster than the others. What do other forum members think?
Mike

Sorry Mike I can't agree with that, the reason Plakias appeals is that it's just the opposite, OK there have been a few changes since my first visit but nothing major. Even if you look at the early photos of Plakias somewhere else on this site the only changes seem to be cosmetic i.e new roads and pavements, OK the odd new building etc. which in my opinion is a good thing when they do it as well as they have.

Does anyone know who actually 'owned' the land that they're building on, previous to the developer??

george g...

[John R]

All resorts change over time but my perception is that Plakias is changing faster than the others. What do other forum members think?

Mike

I think you are right. Most of us (All ?) would like Plakias to remain virtually as is. However that strip of undeveloped land West of Paligremnos  - wonderful though it is in it's undeveloped state is a fairly unusual feature for what is now a popular resort. I have thought for years that anywhere else that would have been developed. I think that all we can hope for is that the development is reasonably acceptable to all concerned - including the residents of Plakias. If tasteful and relatively none disturbing then it would be ok with me - though status quo is obviously my preferred option. The reason Plakias is changing faster than others is that until recently it was relatively undiscovered except for the few visitors - most of whom were repeats. It has now been discovered. I remember my first late September / early October visits 10 years or so ago and like most places it was very much off season and quiet at that time of year. Now it is the busiest time - that in itself is a quick and quite unusual change. I actually think that all ourselves and this very forum is partly "to blame" for some acceleration to the changes. We have definitely contributed to its increased popularity.

George's reply above came in while I was writing this. I agree with him that changes were unusually slow for many years but there is an uncanny acceleration right now.

John R

[George]

Ok, let's be honest now, who hasn't walked along that beach road and dreamt of having your own ''personally designed'' villa somewhere along there? ...thought what it might be like lazing on my own first floor terrace under the pergola with an ice cold G&T, looking out at those views. I know I have on more than one occasion  .

george g...

They're only doing a bit of building John, and we don't know what they're actually doing yet. Is this the beginning of the first phase that was mentioned or just a show home... who knows?? Hopefully more reports will come in during the coming months.

I think we ought to take the 'not' out of this thread title though.  

g...

[shinaria]

 
shinaria

[thomas]

at 30.03.2008 the world was in plakias ok,

will see  

thomas

[Kerstin]

All resorts change over time but my perception is that Plakias is changing faster than the others. What do other forum members think?

Mike

I think you are right. Most of us (All ?) would like Plakias to remain virtually as is. However that strip of undeveloped land West of Paligremnos  - wonderful though it is in it's undeveloped state is a fairly unusual feature for what is now a popular resort. I have thought for years that anywhere else that would have been developed. I think that all we can hope for is that the development is reasonably acceptable to all concerned - including the residents of Plakias. If tasteful and relatively none disturbing then it would be ok with me - though status quo is obviously my preferred option. The reason Plakias is changing faster than others is that until recently it was relatively undiscovered except for the few visitors - most of whom were repeats. It has now been discovered. I remember my first late September / early October visits 10 years or so ago and like most places it was very much off season and quiet at that time of year. Now it is the busiest time - that in itself is a quick and quite unusual change. I actually think that all ourselves and this very forum is partly "to blame" for some acceleration to the changes. We have definitely contributed to its increased popularity.

George's reply above came in while I was writing this. I agree with him that changes were unusually slow for many years but there is an uncanny acceleration right now.

John R

John, I agree with you. Four years ago we thought the same... what a wonderful place, no development but we thought also ... how long. Now the development
comes closer and we hope it will be suitable to the village and the surrounding. On the other side we hope Plakias will be an original with the wonderful
tavernas, bars, apartments/studios and so on.
Now we are waiting for our next holidays in Plakias and we will see what has been changed. We will ask our friends what they think about the new development.

Kerstin

[Graham_and_Karen]

We, like others would have preferred it if the development wasn't going to happen but it may not be too bad. We often go out of of Plakias during the day and we won't be passing it in the evenings. It really depends on whether the extra people make the area feel crowded and whether the windsurfing develops into bananas and ringos   I'm sure we'll have a great time this September, as in all previous years but will always be open to other possibilities.

[John R]

We, like others would have preferred it if the development wasn't going to happen but it may not be too bad. We often go out of of Plakias during the day and we won't be passing it in the evenings. It really depends on whether the extra people make the area feel crowded and whether the windsurfing develops into bananas and ringos   I'm sure we'll have a great time this September, as in all previous years but will always be open to other possibilities.

We are like you and do not use the beach. However I suspect that most people on this forum are farenders or nearly so and it could make a big difference to them. What is now a beautiful long sweeping almost isolated beach virtually ideal for all purposes may change if it is overlooked for the full length by any development however tasteful. For example there is nothing wrong with the beach near the town but  most people walk away from that perfectly good area to enjoy more isolation. I certainly would. I think the minus for the likes of us will be if an increase in visitors overwhelms or changes the character of bars, eating places etc. Also the type of people that it may bring in may not be to our liking. Though not far enders ourselves  nearly all our friends are far enders and they are the sort of people who we like and who appreciate the place for the right reasons.

Like most people we shall carry on going to Plakias unless it ceases to maintain our simple and basic standards.

John R

[Tony and Sandra Smith]

I think we ought to take the 'not' out of this thread title though.  

g...
[/quote]


Perhaps this thread should be reposted to the "Worrying Development" thread that started most of this debate.

Tony

[Susan K]

I am wondering how this will impact on our holiday in September as we stay at the Paligremnos and use the beach opposite.
If the plot of land has become a construction site what are the noise levels going to be and will we be able to hear it. If so, I am not sure I want to be there. Also, how far west of the Paligremnos is it? This is really starting to concern me so perhaps Santa can enlighten us.

Susan

[Santa]

I am wondering how this will impact on our holiday in September as we stay at the Paligremnos and use the beach opposite.
If the plot of land has become a construction site what are the noise levels going to be and will we be able to hear it. If so, I am not sure I want to be there. Also, how far west of the Paligremnos is it? This is really starting to concern me so perhaps Santa can enlighten us.

Susan

I will be in Plakias this Saturday through May 4-I know you are all concerned and I will get the latest details for you as soon as possible. I may sniff around the mayors office and have a look at the drawings and in general try to get the scoop on what is going on.

Santa

[George]

I will be in Plakias this Saturday through May 4-I know you are all concerned and I will get the latest details for you as soon as possible. I may sniff around the mayors office and have a look at the drawings and in general try to get the scoop on what is going on.

Santa

Main man Santa, your doing a great job, thanks!!  

george g...

[George]

I am wondering how this will impact on our holiday in September as we stay at the Paligremnos and use the beach opposite.
If the plot of land has become a construction site what are the noise levels going to be and will we be able to hear it. If so, I am not sure I want to be there. Also, how far west of the Paligremnos is it? This is really starting to concern me so perhaps Santa can enlighten us.

Susan

The site plans are here on this site somewhere Susan.
The site is within spitting distance of the Paligremnos, but let's all wait to see exactly what's going on before we start to panic  .

I usually turn right after Antoni's and over the beach, and walk along the water's edge to get to the far end, so hopefully I won't be seeing much of it.

george g...