Summary:
In the current historical period of the economic crisis, Local Government is facing the
challenge of playing an increasingly expanding role under conditions of fiscal pressure. Given
these increasing demands, Municipalities are looking for alternative ways of managing their
available resources and new forms of input, less dependent on state and European grants.
In this context, the management and utilisation of municipal real estate seem to be of the
utmost importance, since it can enhance those independent and more stable forms of inputs
that have so far remained either inactive or underestimated, consequently contributing to the
development of more robust and economically autonomous Municipalities.
Taking into consideration that achieving optimal management is a complex and lengthy
process, for which there must be a specific implementation plan, this case study examines the
extent to which the Municipality of Thessaloniki implements an overall and effective property
management scheme that, in order to ensure sufficient resources to enhance its financial
viability, acts within the current institutional framework.
Finally, it reaches specific inferences on the existing management approach and proposals to
address the problems and weaknesses observed, so that real estate capitalisation will become a
privileged area of action and an important source of additional revenue for Municipalities in
the future.
Keywords:
Local Government, Municipalities, municipal real estate management, real estate utilisation, Municipality of Thessaloniki
