Pietà landmark to be restored and converted

The dilapidated Old Customs verandah at Pietà will be converted into an up-market restaurant by Pietà Marina Catering Ltd, which won a call for tenders issued by the local council.

The building, for a long time used as a boathouse, has been neglected for years and needs extensive restoration.

John Debono, spokesman for Pietà Marina Caterers Ltd, said an application for the project was being processed by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Once this stage is over and a permit is issued, the company will start talks with Mepa's heritage unit over the methods to be employed on the restoration of the historic building and what materials should be used.

The building was devolved to the Pietà council in November 2005.

In the initial phase after the setting up of local councils, the verandah was at the centre of a controversy between the Pietà and Floriana councils, with both claiming jurisdiction. When eventually the verandah fell under the Pietà council, it was incorporated in plans by the council to develop Sa Maison into a major public recreational area.

Pietà mayor Santo Attard said that some months ago the council had issued a call for tenders for the conversion of the verandah and received three offers.

The building is in a very bad state. Part of the roof has collapsed and the masonry on the sides is crumbling. A notice affixed to the wall urged boat owners to vacate the building because of its dangerous state.

"Pietà Marina Caterers Ltd is ready to embark on the project but it is still difficult at this stage to speak about the completion date," Mr Debono said.

Restoration of the masonry is expected to take between nine and 12 weeks. The roof has to be dismantled and scaffolding must be erected around the structure to facilitate restoration work.

Mr Debono said Mepa had insisted on detailed reports regarding the method of restoration. A comprehensive restoration method statement was also carried out by architects engaged by Pietà Marina Caterers Ltd and presented to Mepa.

He said the building needs urgent and extensive restoration and therefore the company has exercised pressure on Mepa, the Pietà council and the Lands Department to speed up matters, in view of the problems posed by the condition of the building itself.

Boat owners are of course disappointed by the fact that they will be losing the facility where to store their boats.

Boat owner Spiru Camilleri said he remembers his grandfather keeping his boat under the verandah and he had done the same in more recent years.

At a meeting with the council, boat owners who used to keep their boats at the verandah demanded an alternative site. The Pietà mayor said the council was seeking to identify a place that could be made available.