Just one offer made in Selmun Palace Hotel sale

Gustav Svensson

Jun 9th 2011, 16:25

Nothing is worth more then someone is willing to pay:).. If this is worth 2M...compare that to the asking prices for normal maltese villas (of poor quality)....no wonder they don't sell..

Samwel Bezzina

Jan 15th 2010, 12:38

Something's fishy for sure. Take the price for starters.

N. Bonello

Jan 15th 2010, 00:23

It's hard to believe that there was only one bidder.

Even harder to believe that the sale will go ahead.

I'm sure that the USUAL speculative loop holes will be in place to guarantee a bonanza !

Stop the sale ! The tax payer deserves better.

R Curmi

Jan 14th 2010, 21:44

disgraceful. Selling off that monstrosity of a hotel together with one of the most spectacular heritage castles on the isalnd shows how much our goverment has no spine.

If the goverment really is after the people's interest should call off the stupid deal, which after all is well below its real price for the area, knock off the hotel and just turn the Castle into a heritage site. Why are we giving off all our heritage to single people for just hem to enjoy and the rest of us can only look from the outside to admire our own.

Lets see there is Ferretti battery in Bbugia, Chambray in Gozo, the pitiful state of Ricasli and now we can yet again add Selmun castle to the equation.

R. Mifsud

Jan 14th 2010, 20:38

I agree with most of you below. The offer should be turned down and if it is sold, no further developement should take place. We have enough sore sights on the island, we don't need to spoil selmun and the castle surrounds.
Further developement, especially if it is in height will ruin the area and the castle itself. The government should add another 2 million euros in deficit and give it back to the public.

C Borg

Jan 14th 2010, 20:02

Scandalous!
Why sell the castle too when this is part of the maltese heritage?

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Jan 14th 2010, 18:34

Is government happy to leave this monstrosity exist for a mere 2,000,000 euros?

Boasting about green credentials, Government should take the opportunity to purchase the property, demoilsh it and return the castle to its former glory.

Can such a golden opportunity be missed or will property speculators win the day yet again?

c. camilleri

Jan 14th 2010, 15:55

For such a pittance i would rather bring down the hotel and leave the Majestic Castle dominate the area. It was madness in the first place to build this hotel which has ruined the environment of the place, as it is a pity that at the of construction of this monstrous hotel the clamorous NGOs were not active yet. Anyhow considering the restriction on freedom at that time they would not have opened their mouths. In my opinion this is one of past blunders which it is going to stay with us for a long time.

Peter Bonnici

Jan 14th 2010, 15:31

What an eyesore ! If I had the money I would pay double just to have the hotel demolished.

Deo Catania

Jan 14th 2010, 15:30

@W Spencer. Try to understand what you read....no one said the Palace should be knocked down but the Hotel yes.

Joseph Calleja

Jan 14th 2010, 14:09

The first thing to do is separate the Selmun Palace from the hotel. The Palace should be taken over by Heritage Malta or Mellieha Heritage and cared for. As far as the hotel, it should have never been built in the first place. Maybe it's time to tear down the hotel and let the magnificent palace stand on it's own as it once did. I agree with Paul Xuereb. I hope the NGOs put their money where their mouths are and come to the rescue. I am sure Air Malta can make up the money, and the people of Malta will be ever so grateful for saving the Selmun Palace, as would many tourists. It would be a very educational experience to be able to walk in and see for yourself what the palace looks like inside, very few people have.

v.farrugia

Jan 14th 2010, 13:49

kiku ghandu zmien insijra kiku gevern il poplu ibijhu ukoll . tal misthija kif qijad jamel lili ris mepa alla birika fejn trid u meta trid titkellem biex Selmun Palace tal zmien 1783 u inbihu ukoll ta trid tkun veru mejt bil guh ma fadal xejn dan pajizz ghax kollx fidejn il baranin. airmalta ghnada izomu u tamel specjal offer fuq lukanda min jaqta biljetti t lajru ma airmalta . ma nafux ihadmu mohna . allura skola ghal fejn qeda fijhom dawn nies

W Spencer

Jan 14th 2010, 13:40

@ Paul Xuereb

Now that makes real sense , eh ?? ................knock down a 17th Century structure ( that has lasted centuries ) , and then knock up yet more ugly, unwanted, and unecessary, apartments and flats, which only seem to last a decade or two before they are either knocked down or fallen down !!

Wonder who the tourists would rather pay to come and admire, a 17th century castle, or 21st century pidgeon loft type apartments / flats ? Ah, but of course, those troublesome paying tourists are not needed or wanted are they ??

Martin Chetcuti

Jan 14th 2010, 13:10

As far as I know the Commissioner of Land has the right to refuse even the most advantegous offer if he should feel that the offer is well below market value.

Claudia Pecorella

Jan 14th 2010, 13:05

Are the notary and wife really going to leave it as a Hotel/wedding function ? or build apartments?

Louis Gatt

Jan 14th 2010, 13:03

I wonder if the Revenue Department will send it's architects to check if the sale price is a fair one or not. Many a time people buying property have been subjected to such scrutiny by the Revenue Department and taxed according to the Department's evaluation and not the actual price shown on the contract !

Sean Sant Fournier

Jan 14th 2010, 12:56

A typical businessman after buying it for such a bargain price, to make the most out of it, would not pay the ground rent of the Castle and the Government would take it back so the maintenance will have to be done by the Governmnet, that is, the Maltese tax payers. Then after allowing some time to pass he would say that there are no tourists and it is not feasible to run the hotel. Then he would apply with MEPA to build apartments instead and get as many apartments as possible and sell them at unbelievably high prices because they are in such an exclusive position and no one would have a chance of building in that area. That is how you become rich off the Government vis a vis the Maltese people and has happened too many times in the past !!!

E Formosa

Jan 14th 2010, 12:33

@Paul Xuereb - well said!

And before people start saying about the jobs that will be lost, it will probably be torn down to be developed into apartments/villas in any case.

G.Micallef

Jan 14th 2010, 12:28

What a shame! So this majestic state-owned property is going to be sold for less than 1,000000 Malta Lira? Oh no! How low can we go! All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. By the way, is Malta on sale at a reduced price after the Christmas season???

John A. Azzopardi

Jan 14th 2010, 12:24

I am sure one or more of the local heritage groups will be able to raise Eur 2 million plus to buy this historic site for the Maltese nation. Set up a management unit, employ some local Maltese construction labours to bring down that monstrosity, employ some local Maltese craftsmen to restore the castle, employ some local talent to landscape and create a leaisure park. When all is done to perfection (no more half measures please) charge a small fee to anyone who wishes to use and/or enjoy the facilities and I quarantee that in no time at all they would recoup the whole investment required.
Mr. Government - how about giving the Maltese nation a loan (of course out of our own taxes)
to invest in this venture.
Sorry to the notary and his wife who put forward the only offer - but this jewel should not be in the crown of only one entrepreneur but should be enjoyed by the Mr. John Public

Philip Grima

Jan 14th 2010, 12:02

It just cannot be that the property is being sold for Euro 2,000,000. A villa or an apartment could fetch more nowadays. The hotel's location is superb and it enjoys stunning views from all sides. Such a price could only be justified if the deal is tied to a multi million investment, which if not realised within a stipulated time frame by the original investor, falls through. It should also be ensured that the same footprint and height of building is respected ,if not downsized, and that use remains tourist oriented.

Paul Xuereb

Jan 14th 2010, 11:52

2 million Euros is not worth the sale. the Government should have the guts to tear down that monstrosity and turn the area in a park promoting sports and healthy lifes. mela flats u hotels vojta.

MSciberras

Jan 14th 2010, 11:22

Designed in 1619 built in 1783............MEPA should be ashamed of itself.....