St Julian's council plans old peoples' home
The St Julians local council is planning to strike a private public partnership agreement for the development of an old people’s home close to the Regional Road.
The council will provide the land and the private sector will build and run the home. At an estimated cost of €13 million – of which the council will not fork out a cent – the project is understood to be the first of this scale undertaken by an individual locality.
“It is a very ambitious project. Local councils are not only there to see to the changing of street lights and pavements but to enter into private partnership agreements for such projects for the benefit of the local community,” said St Julians mayor Peter Bonello.
The council voted unanimously in favour of the project, which is still in its initial stages. An outline development permit application was recently submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
Mr Bonello said the council was planning to consult the public once the plans were finalised.
The land earmarked for the proposed building is government owned and was passed on to the council to be used for a social purpose. It lies adjacent to the Al Fateh Libyan School at Ta’ Giorni and is spread over an area of 5,200 square metres.
The entrance would be from Anġlu Mikiel Borg Street, the road leading from Spinola Bay up to Regional Road.
The plans are for a five-storey building and an underground car park with a capacity for 105 cars. The home will have 156 beds in a mix of single and double rooms with a garden which would also be open to the public.
Council architect Stephen Farrugia said the plan was to also use the residence as a night shelter for elderly people who may not feel safe sleeping at home alone.
A brand new council office would be built next to the main block and include a public library and the government polyclinic which is today housed in a tiny room inside the St Julians police station.
Mr Bonello said the council was looking into the possibility of using the funds available through the Community Parking Payment Scheme to extend the proposed underground car park. The council would also like to offer a park and ride service between the car park and the town centre.
No timeframes have been set for the project. A call for tenders will be issued once the permits are in hand, the mayor said.
Residents who would like to have a look at the current plans can do so at the council offices. The mayor said nothing was cast in stone and any comments or suggestions would be examined.
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E. Ciantar
Aug 24th 2010, 23:53
"Residents who would like to have a look at the current plans can do so at the council offices. The mayor said nothing was cast in stone and any comments or suggestions would be examined." Here are some comments I have as a Maltese citizen.
The article above does not mention anywhere who will pay for the ongoing cost of the services of an old people's home. The cost of development may come "free" but the developer will recover it from recurring fees. This is likely to be a steep expense. But importantly, will, and can the Local Council have the resources to monitor the standards of quality of this care service,?
Secondly, this is public land in St. Julians, an important town. It seems from the above that the project will be operated by or on behalf of the St. Julians Local Council. Presumably, therefore, it will be used to serve the St. Julians residents. Would it be right that a project built on that land, at such a huge cost, will not serve the citizens from the other nearby towns at least?
It looks very likely that this proposal will change significantly before it is final.
nella bencini
Aug 24th 2010, 21:30
I agree we need an Old people's home, or Senior Residence as I prefer to call it....
And my suggestion is to turn the Metripole Hotel, and any other standing hotel now boarded up, to be used as such. I understand the Tower Palace hotel in Tower Road, is also being pulled down in place of more ... yes '' luxury' apts, so the rumour's go.... This way, we are utilizing what is there already, and save ourselves what is left of 'space'..... not to mention the cost!! Anyone agrees with this??
Alexander Pace Gouder.
Aug 24th 2010, 18:34
An Old Peopel's Home , the centralization of various offices and The Local Council's Office is a step in the right direction. This will definitely be of great benefit for St.Julian's elderly. The building in the picture is too modern for the area and does not match the buildings adjusting it. Something on the plans of St.Michael's Training College (as know to us who live in St.Julians) will make better sense. The plan looks too much like CONCRETE BOXES. The Car Park under the said building is also a step in the right direction as this will not obstruct or change the environment of the area and cars should just enter from the same road by the regional road and not through Lapsi Street.or Ta' Giorni Area. The amount required for this project is quite a sum. I and this is a personal proposal would have preferred if the Council entered some agreement with the central government for such a project and the whole project effected jointly by The Government and The Council even obtaining EU funds. ( We have seen such projected effected and inaugurated by the Central Government so why not the same for our St.Julians?)
Dunstan Crockford
Aug 24th 2010, 16:56
Please wait for the next Council Elections before embarking on anything...let alone such a big project!!..The Council is not even capable of painting proper road markings on the main road,of seeing to pavements(try walking opposite Neptunes Club!!).....and so many trivial things. Then it comes up with projects like Balluta underground parking and other ambitious projects!!!
Peter Bonnici
Aug 24th 2010, 16:28
This is so amusing. The St Julians council isn't capable ot appointing and monitoring the work of pavement construction contractors, yet its ambitious enough to even dream of a project of this magnitude.
edgar rossignaud
Aug 24th 2010, 16:15
Why would a Local Council want to enter into a business deal with one private entrepreneur (on public land nevertheless) and not with another for a different project? I am sure they would find many such investors ready to launch other projects - a large car-park somehow comes to mind. It is clear that the one who would benefit would be the entrepreneur (can't wait to know who!) as he would be riding piggy-bank on the Council's initiative. A flawed project if you ask me!
Salvu Schembri
Aug 24th 2010, 13:24
Can we know who the contractor who is going to build the home is? Another case of scratch my back and I scratch yours?
Sergio Vassallo
Aug 24th 2010, 13:22
More concrete boxes without any aesthetics
a attard
Aug 24th 2010, 13:07
A much needed project for the St. Julians community I think. Maybe the post office should be moved there too. Don't know how large the proposed garden is, but definatly some form of large green area should be part of the project to serve as a breather. Everyone knows the coastal area from St. Georges bay right down to Balluta is so heavily congested with Spinola itself being a pedestrians nightmare! such a green space would be very much be appreciated.
A.J.Borg
Aug 24th 2010, 12:32
Private business on public land - explanations please!
Shall this land by burdened by emphyteusis?
perit stephen farrugia
Aug 24th 2010, 12:08
The council offices, library and the rest of the community uses are located at the bottom end however a pedestrian link from the upper road which leads to the old part of St.Julian's is also being contemplated
J. Fiorentino
Aug 24th 2010, 11:00
Beautiful idea! Ugly design.
Anna A Cremona
Aug 24th 2010, 14:24
I agree, Beautiful Idea but HORRENDIOUS building. Another eye sore in St Julians/Paceville.
M.Gauci
Aug 24th 2010, 10:42
Well done Mr.Peter Bonello and St. Julian's local Council.
Just a little suggestion. The Council office, polyclinic and Library should be located at the bottom end for easy reach from Spinola.
Joseph Gerada
Aug 24th 2010, 11:28
Well done? Are you a St.Julian's resident? Or do you at least live there to see the work (or rather the lack of it!) that the St.Julian's local council has been carrying out? I work in the locality and am disgusted by the following:
1. As it clearly states in the article - this is a private venture so obviously there will be fees involved for those who want to make use of the premises - will this be another Prince of Whales old people's luxury home built on the public land given to a private entrepreneur - FREE OF CHARGE!!??? - this is totally outrageous! Is this what Mr.Bonello regards as being in the interest of the community?
2. Mr.Peter Bonello should be tackling situations such as the taking over of part of Upper Ross street by the owners of Dean Residence (Mr.Edward Gatt) thus reducing the parking spaces for residents! I have spoken to Mr.Bonello personally about the situation and he has done nothing whatsoever about it!
M.Gauci
Aug 24th 2010, 12:23
Mr. Joseph Gerada.
I understand that you are hurt and irritated and I would not like to get personal, however if the St. Julian's Local Council members voted unanimously for the project I suppose that must in itself account for something.
By the way, yes I am a Giljanis and proud of it. I take the good and suffer the bad just as you do, buy I will tell you something, I will not change it for anywhere else.
Keep trying to do the best for your village. you have my support.
T Camilleri
Aug 24th 2010, 13:19
Excellent observations Mr Joseph Gerada. Public land is being given to private contractors to make fantastic profit from it. I suggest that a new PL government looks into the conditions of the contract and if necessary rescind it without any compensation.
Joseph Gerada
Aug 24th 2010, 15:38
Well, M.Gauci, with all due respect, it would be wrong to assume that just cause the other council members voted in favour of the project, this means that it is the best option and in the public interest. Just have a look at the current situation with the Sliema local council and other local councils around Malta and Gozo which have been in the news lately!