The proposal for the Balluta car park has finally surfaced, revealing a cylindrical, underground, automatic structure that has the ground opening up to swallow vehicles into the square's belly.
St Julians mayor Peter Bonello said yesterday the nine-level hole would be confined to the top part of the square, which would remain intact once the work was complete and its paved area increased by 20 per cent.
The controversial and mysterious Balluta car park development raised disapproval and a call to preserve the popular lung in the heart of the locality by residents, environment NGOs and political parties.
The controversy stemmed from suspicions that the application to turn a public convenience across the square into an electric bus station, for which the tender is at an advanced stage, could be the first phase of its disruption.
But Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has since confirmed the government had no plans for the underground car park. The project has been considered unfeasible, with any excavation destabilising the square, according to residents and NGOs.
But for the local council, which approved the car park proposal, it is the most "doable" of three earmarked sites, even though it still has not quantified the investment.
Funding has been secured from the €2.8 million of Mepa's Committed Payment Parking Scheme.
It was also considering setting up a public-private fund in agreement with Mepa for the restoration of the Balluta Buildings.
Architect Stephen Farrugia, whose company was commissioned by the council, denied any intention to reduce the garden space. He said 90 per cent of it would remain intact and the five uprooted trees would be reinstated while the affected 10 per cent would touch paving laid about four years ago, with no historical relevance.
The proposed automated parking system, popular in Italy, would have a footprint of 314 square metres as opposed to the 3,070 of a conventional car park on the surface for the same amount of cars, an option that had always been considered a non-starter. The car park would cater for just over 100 cars but even five more parking spaces would make a difference, he said.
The council was also planning a car park next to the primary school in Anġlu Mikiel Borg Street. Last week, it applied for the devolution of government land for a €13 million public-private partnership that would incorporate a home for the elderly and new council offices.
Mr Bonello warned that if the car park did not materialise, it would prove harder to have residents' parking as this was linked to the provision of parking spaces for visitors.
He continued to insist no application would be submitted prior to public consultation. The first meeting for residents has been scheduled for Friday at 6.30 p.m. at Le Meridien Hotel, in St Julians.