Anger at plan for priests’ complex
Markiż Zimmermann Bartolo Street, Sliema.
A group of Sliema residents have expressed anger over a planned eight-storey building owned by Dominican priests.
The complex, including garages, offices, bedrooms, classrooms, meeting rooms and penthouses, would have frontages on the Tigné Waterfront, Markiż Zimmermann Bartolo Street and Fawwara Alley. Both of these streets branch out from Bisazza Street.
Approved by the planning authority, the project was considered to be acceptable by the case officer since it complied with the height limitation, car parking requirements, design considerations, and planning policies.
It will include 20 two-bedroom flats, four one-bedroom penthouses, around 450 square metres of retail space, as well as 1,100 square metres of office space and classrooms and meeting rooms for the Dominican Community.
But the new building has angered residents of Markiż Zimmermann Bartolo Street including Tony Mallia who described it as “ridiculous” and a “disaster”. The residents are concerned that the garage, which will open onto Markiż Zimmermann Bartolo Street, will create a hazard because the street is too narrow.
“Many people pass from there, including students who attend a language school in the road. Even though the road will be slightly widened, it still won’t be safe,” Mr Mallia said.
They were also objecting because the eight-storey building will block out sunlight.
The site forms part of the existing Dominican Convent next to the Church of Jesus of Nazareth and includes a number of rooms around a colonnaded central courtyard with a loggia.
The complex is regarded as one of the best works of Guzé D’Amato and was built during the 1950s. The hall, loggia and central courtyard are still in a good state.
The part of the site where development will take place is reserved for residential use and reinstatement of the ancillary facilities for the Dominican community. There is no objection to the proposed retail outlets and offices on Fawwara Alley.
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13 Comments
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Louis Raynor
Aug 27th 2012, 08:21
And whilst we are at it,why isn't something done about the amount of traffic going downhill to Tigne through St Anthony Street. The traffic that used to use Bisazza Street is now using this road. The tunnel is not working.Close of this road to residents or to those who have business in this street,and enforce the law with very heavy fines. It's not only Sliema Council who is not working but the tunnel meant to carry though traffic also..
John Camillleri
Aug 27th 2012, 00:26
"La tal-Knisja , LE!!" Dik id-demokrazija ta xi Maltin.
paul camilleri
Aug 27th 2012, 11:20
democray has nothing to do with it being it tal kniesija or not.
it is simple common sense the road is a cul de sac meanning what goes in one way comes out the same way because of this alone should merit that building another 20 2 bed room flats and i forget how many singles plus business shops and what nots all this alone should every person that is to occupy this building park their car inside the building itself would cause a major problem that already exhists in cars getting into and out of that street.
also one has to take into consideration if this particular building has any historic value before being torn down .
and last but not least although buildings on the other side of the street may indeed be as high as the proposal of this building plans to be, they do and are not obstructing other buildings sunlight, whereas if this building is to proceed it would cast the opposit buildings in shadow which also creates a health risk of damp and mould not to mention the residents rights to be able to have solar energy appliances installed.
Louis Raynor
Aug 26th 2012, 17:04
It will ruin the skyline of the church which is about the only bit of the skyline worth saving now. It will create more heat,less light and more pollution for those living in or in proximity to the alley. And it will add more chaos to Tigne which in itself has more population to the square foot than Singapore or Hong Kong.
Go away with your plans and leave the people some breathing space. The Dominicans should stop cashing in on what was given to them in good faith and stop ransoming the people's health.
Rupert Grech
Aug 26th 2012, 16:53
The battle for Sliema was lost long ago. The beautiful waterfront has been sacrificed to greed. It will be difficult to stop more overdevelopment because of the precedents already set. I hope lessons are learnt and other parts of Malta are spared this type of overdevelopment but I doubt it. Beautiful Malta is disappearing before our very eyes and turning into just another high-rise tourist resort
Sandra Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 16:32
Why all this fuss!
Everyone else in that street has built 8 storey building - so why not the Dominician Commununity!
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 26th 2012, 14:55
Here there everywhere, it's like living in a shoe box. VIVA MEPA.
Tony Barbaro Sant
Aug 26th 2012, 12:12
My late ancestor, Reno Zimmerman Barbaro, who had bequeathed the land to the Dominican Fathers, must be rolling in his grave. Ahjar halliha lili!
Adrian E. Camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 10:27
This very pretty 'sqaq' in Tigne is 'Triq Markizi Zimmermann Barbaro' and not as is indicated in this report. Moreover it would be scandulous to change it the way as is being proposed, whatever MEPA approve. It is such a pretty alley, and should be improved into a still prettier 'sqaq'. With all due respect to the Dominican Fathers, it would be more damaging to have the 'Bisazza' side of this street widened to permit the introduction of further garages etc. One can only term this approval as scandulous. Do not the residents as well as the Sliema Local Council have any say any more on this change? NO MORE GARAGES IN THIS STREET PLEASE, and very restricted high building, please. Improve the street would be MOST WELCOME, but not this kind of development. Again, with all due respect to the Dominican Fathers. MEPA is once again over-doing it! Please STOP.
Victor Rodenas
Aug 26th 2012, 10:26
Nobody likes situations like these,.....they are called N.I.M.B.Y. At is-Swieqi terraced houses built 25 yrs. ago have been demolished and in their stead four storey flats with penthouses have been built,...putting everybody in the shade,...addio solar panels, etc.
j dough
Aug 26th 2012, 16:06
and not only in sliema/swieqi areas. marsascala is being totally ruined by flats flats flats flats. many stand empty or in shell form after years. those that are occupied cause problems regarding parking (not all residents have -or use- a garage). what was a lovely seaside village with large tracts of 'green area' and a pretty little bay has become a forest of buildings with an attached shanty town. what a shame.
Joanna Borg
Aug 26th 2012, 20:55
We have the same situation in Attard. And what's worse most of the newly built apartments lie empty for years with 'For Sale' signs covering the windows and doors, making the whole area look shabby and run down.
paul camilleri
Aug 26th 2012, 09:24
i totally agree with Mr Mallia , not only would it be desatious but would cause more parking problems that already exhists in that area, also now that Bisazza street is a pedistrian zone would cause more traffic jams and horn honking because a already narrow road would have to handel at least 15 times more cars coming in and out of the same entrance/exit way.
keep uo the fight Mr Mallia
il lupo
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