Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1475799
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 AUGUST 2022 NEWS NEWS JAMES DEBONO DEVELOPERS have present- ed photomontages showing the visual impact of an imposing 11-storey hotel proposed instead of an old farmhouse next to Villa Bonici in Sliema. The proposed hotel will replace a dilapidated farmhouse building and what was until some time ago an adjacent 'garden'. The property borders the privately owned Villa Bonici gardens that are scheduled. The garden that formed part of the farmhouse has already been turned into a car park, which was regularised by the Planning Authority in June. The photomontages also de- pict a public staircase linking the upper and lower part of Parisio Street with the hotel stepping up from seven floors adjacent to residential blocks along Parisio street to 11 storeys with the four top storeys being receded. Last year the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had ex- pressed "grave concern" at the intensity of development pro- posed on a site between Moroni and Parisio streets which abuts the scheduled gardens of Villa Bonici, and in the immediate vi- cinity of the historic telephone exchange, also scheduled at Grade 2. 11-storey hotel to rise next to scheduled Villa Bonici garden Language school, offices and gym proposed on green enclave in St Julian's JAMES DEBONO DEVELOPERS want to build over a green enclave retained as an 'island' during the construction of Regional Road over 50 years ago. The site was once part of the Balluta valley and covers 2,300sq.m. The proposed develop- ment consists of two underground parking lev- els, a gym and spa facilities, an English language school, a gaming software academy and offices. A public garden set to include a kiosk with a seating area, a play area and afforested areas is being proposed on top of the proposed building which will rise three floors above Birkirkara Road and one floor above Regional Road. The vacant site is located along Triq Henry Calleja and Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli opposite the new petrol station on the way to Ta' Giorni and San Gwann. The application was presented by Jodie Camill- eri, a shareholder in Camland Limited which is also owned by developer Charles Camilleri. The application presented in February but published last week states that the land in question is fully owned by the applicant. The site includes remnants of rubble walls that enclosed old fields and terraces along what was once part of Balluta valley and is designated as a 'public open space' in the local plan approved in 2006. No development is normally allowed on such public spaces except for community purposes on condition that "a significant proportion" of the site is kept as open space. The owners of another 2,753sq.m green enclave located near the bridge on Triq Mikiel Anton Vasalli, between Triq il-Baltiku and Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli are also trying to change the zon- ing of the site to get a permit for an eight-storey office block. Application foresees public garden on roof of new development