Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1179886
19 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 OCTOBER 2019 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Balluta development not piecemeal CONTRARY to the impression given by the report 'Balluta owners want more' (13 October, 2019), the facts about this development are as fol- lows: We originally bought the premises at 196 and 197 Main Street, St Ju- lian's, and subsequently applied for permits to redevelop site through our architects. The description of pro- posals according to this application (PA 2671/16) was: "To demolish four existing apartments, retaining facade on main street & construct basement garages at level -1, offices (class 4a) at levels 0 & 1, apartments at levels 2, 3, 4 & 5". The seaward façade was designed by a foreign architect, but this pro- posal was turned down by the Design Advisory Committee of the Planning Authority and we then submitted a more conventional facade. This was approved and the permit was issued in accordance with planning law. Loft, a private entity in its own right, was commissioned to provide interior design services in a local context. Their skills and expertise in the field are evident in a number of private and commercial properties they have been entrusted with. Subsequently, we had the opportu- nity to acquire the house adjacent to the site (198 Main Str). This was al- ready covered by a PA permit as per application submitted by the previ- ous owners. However, when one con- sidered the two proposals together there was an evident lack of articula- tion especially in the approved back elevations. In the circumstances, we felt it made more sense if the two sites were to be considered as one and propose a holistic development for the whole site. The project description of this application (PA 254/15) was: "To include approved development per- mission (Demolition of interior of house and reconstructing house with pool on roof, including the retaining and restoring of the facade on Triq it-Torri) with adjacent site approved by PA 2617/16 and amalgamate the two development permissions to result in a basement garage at level -1, offices (Class 4a) at levels 0, 1 & 2, residential units at levels 3, 4 & 5 plus overlying setback residential units at level 6, plus other internal and external additions and altera- tions". This application was approved and the relative permit was issued in accordance with planning law. Since St Julian's is an area of con- stant development and investment where demand exceeds supply, our commitment is to restore the build- ings in question to their former glory while encouraging sensible com- mercial development. This led us to believe that using the whole develop- ment for offices was more viable and therefore we applied to the Planning Authority for a change of use of the residential units to offices. This ap- plication was refused and we have since appealed against this negative decision. The allegation that these permits were the result of some premeditated plan consisting of piecemeal devel- opment applications in order to get a permit that would otherwise not have been issued is completely false and is not borne out by the facts as outlined above. The heading of the article is obnoxious as it implies that we are some Oliver Twist, always asking for more. Our company takes development seriously and in a professional man- ner and we will continue to strive to achieve sustainable and environ- ment friendly projects to the benefit of the community and our tenants. With this in mind, we are committed to restore buildings that are worth restoring to their former state, while adapting them as sensible commer- cial development. Michael Stivala, Chairman and CEO, Stivala Group of Companies Editor's note: The report quoted an NGO activist suggesting the piecemeal approach. Still, Mr Sti- vala's literary reference is unfortu- nate: in Dickens's novel, the underfed Twist justifiably demands more gruel because he is hungry, but is swiftly admonished… were it so with the Maltese planning regime.