Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1165935
JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage has already shot down a plan to drop one of Slie- ma's most characteristic row of townhouses, on Depiro Street, as an "unacceptable intensifica- tion of development". The row of townhouses – a 70-metre long row of two- storey houses built on a raised plinth – are being proposed for demolition to make way for a six-storey apartment block. Known as the 'parapets' area of Depiro Street, which runs from Sliema's Dingli Street down to Manuel Dimech Street, the houses have staircases leading to the raised parapet entrances, which would be replaced by garages and ground-floor door- ways according to the proposed plans. The new six-storey building will sit between an existing de- velopment of four storeys to one side, and the remaining traditional townhouses, having only three storeys on the other side. But nearly 60 objections have already been presented by resi- dents irked by the proposed de- velopment. And the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage said the development would create an "undeniable and negative im- pact both on the property and on the streetscapes within the Urban Conservation Area", and erode "the cultural significance of the streetscape and existing character of the village core". The townhouses date back to the early 1900s and are located within Sliema's UCAs where complete demolitions are not normally permitted. The buildings are charac- terised by traditional Maltese architectural features such as wooden doors and closed tim- ber balconies, wrought iron fanlights, coloured glass win- dows and traditional roofing structures. The plans, presented by prop- erty developer John Bonavia, foresee the replacement of the balconies with traditional tim- ber balconies within the facade design. One resident objecting to the development expressed his frustration at seeing "old Slie- ma" being "taken over by unre- lenting development." "I have seen many original Sliema residents, whose fami- lies have been living here for generations, moving to other areas because they can't stand the noise, the dust, and the un- sightly view of so many cranes." The resident called on the Planning Authority to take a look at how residents are being affected by the unnecessary on- slaught of this large-scale "de- struction". The PA recently gave pro- tection to 52 houses on Stella Maris Street and Capua Street in Sliema in a sign that the authorities are finally heed- ing discontentment at over- development unleashed by the 2006 extension of building zones, and aggravated by design guidelines approved in 2015. Yet one of the part-owners of the Depiro Street houses, Da- vid Falzon, has remarked in a comment to the Times that the houses are also surrounded by apartments. Falzon said the houses have been owned by over 50 heirs, and that it had taken the law courts "20 years and a charge of €200,000 to come up with a solution", with their only op- tion being to sell the houses by court auction. Since the owners could not sell the houses individually with tenants in them, they resolved to sell the houses to a devel- oper, who will grant each ten- ant ownership of a brand new apartment. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWS By means of a decree of the 24th April, 2019, in the records of the judicial letter number 260/19 in the names APS Bank Ltd vs Benny Camilleri, the First Hall of the Civil Court ordered the following publication for the purpose of service of the respondent in terms of Article 187(3) et sequitur of Cap. 12. In the First Hall of the Civil Court Today 24th January, 2019 To Benny Camilleri (ID 494778M) ta' KateSalv, Triq il-Kostituzzjoni, Birżebbuġa. By means of this present APS Bank Ltd (C 2192) APS Centre, Tower Street, Birkirkara BKR 4012, solicits you so that within fifteen days from the notification of this judicial letter you pay the interpellant the amount of €22,513.38 due as for the sum of €19,190.25 as balance of debt of the Loan Account number 2000111969-5 and as for the sum of €3,323.13 as balance of Interest Disposal Account number 2000173234-0. In default further procedures will be taken against you according to Law. With costs and further interest on the said Loan Account number 2000111969-5 with effect from the 1st January, 2019, till the date of effective payment. This judicial letter is being filed in terms of Cap. 12 and Cap. 16 of the Laws of Malta. Registry of the Superior Courts today 30th August, 2019 ALEXANDRA DEBATTISTA For the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals Characteristic Depiro Street townhouses earmarked for six-storey apartment block Sliema's parapets face the axe This side of Depiro Street was built after the turn of the century; the rest of the street right between the government school and these townhouses was once a large field that has since been replaced by apartments for the British services, a large hotel in the 1980s, and now apartments once again. The plan for the townhouses is to build a six- storey apartment block