With reference to George Debono’s article ‘Townsquare and the rape of Sliema’ (September 4) I would like to point out several inaccuracies in his references to my interview with Vanessa Macdonald that appeared on the previous Sunday in the same newspaper.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Townsquare, by comparing the two articles, readers should easily see that Dr Debono painted his own version of the interview. For example, Dr Debono wanted to make it seem that Townsquare’s attitude was “smug and repulsive” and that we consider the public as “lesser beings”, and so he wrote: “Andrew Ganado… kicked off by telling us that, unlike himself and ‘top real estate agents’, the masses of law-abiding, hard-working people who are opposing the project are ‘not really competent’ to object.”
Putting aside his implication that we are neither law-abiding nor hard-working, I never said that the public is not competent enough to object. What I did say, within the context of the question asked on the demand for luxury property in Sliema, was that “unfortunately, people who are commenting are not really competent in this field” and that top real estate agents disagree that Townsquare is a white elephant. My comment referred exclusively to real estate demand in Sliema and Townsquare’s commercial viability, and not the public’s sacrosanct right to object.
On this same subject, Dr Debono compares apples with pears: a tower in a prime location in Sliema to another tower project in a totally different part of Malta. He also compares Malta to Spain and Ireland, where prime-location real estate demand, and especially supply, are totally different.
It is too easy for Dr Debono to take some of my words and then magically twist them to conjure up the illusion of his choice.
He does not limit himself to twisting the facts of the interview but also the facts of the Townsquare project. He conveniently ignores the fact that Townsquare is 100 per cent in accordance with all Planning Authority (PA) policies, including the Floor Area Policy (FAR) Policy of 2014, unanimously approved by the PA (then Mepa), including all delegates from all major political parties.
The “commoners” in the street that Dr Debono refers to, with the approved Townsquare project, will have 7,300sqm of pedestrian open space to make use of 24x7, landscaped, maintained and kept secure by Townsquare Sliema Ltd. Is this large area, one-and-a-half times the size of the gardens in Qui-si-Sana, a “small retail avenue”, as Dr Debono claims, or is this one of the largest pedestrian spaces in Sliema?
Dr Debono also writes that Townsquare is unethically “milking” the site to its fullest extent. The facts are that we are building 159 residences with 7,300sqm of open space. Had we applied today for a traditional scheme, we could have built 26 blocks, with 240 units and with zero pedestrian open space. Somehow Dr Debono ignores this very important fact, nor does he mention that unlike the 26-block scenario, we will not build tall party-walls close to the back-windows of the neighbouring blocks – as is the case with virtually all of Sliema. Townsquare’s approved design will leave the great majority of neighbouring blocks with open views at the back, onto what will be one of the largest open pedestrian spaces in Sliema.
Dr Debono claims that Sliema is already “heavily polluted and unhealthy”, and that its infrastructure is stretched to the limit. Are these claims based on site-specific professional studies? If not, he should be very careful before scaring Sliema residents into thinking that they are harming themselves with every breath they take.
The facts of the matter are that Sliema’s drainage and water and electricity can handle the current load and are also designed to handle Townsquare.
The additional traffic of a daily average of three cars per minute, which Townsquare will create, will not cause any additional traffic congestion in the area, thanks to a new junction at the top of Qui-si-Sana road. Nor will there be a negative effect on the quality of Qui-si-Sana road. These claims are not based on sensation or personal opinion, but on the relevant government authorities and on detailed studies carried out by independent expert firms.
Dr Debono states that our environment impact assessment is a sham; my interview clearly states that all assessments and studies were made in accordance with the Planning Authority requirements and that the findings were all certified by the competent authorities.
Finally, the Gasan Family are not “outsiders”. We have lived in Sliema for over three generations, we have owned this land for over 60 years, most of us are born and bred in Sliema, as I was. But even if we were “outsiders” arriving from afar, the project should be judged on its actual merits, on the facts. We all have a responsibility to stick to the facts, otherwise our opinions and influence are nothing but a disservice to all.