Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1491941
9 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 FEBRUARY 2023 JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence of Cul- tural Heritage is objecting to a five-storey extension of Dar Bjorn in Zebbug, warning this would create a domino effect on the streetscape. The heritage watchdog said the extension would set a prec- edent for similar developments in a street which merits inclu- sion in the locality's urban con- servation area located just 36m away. The ALS foundation led by the tireless campaigner and fund raiser Bjorn Formosa is eyeing an even larger facility in Ħaż-Żebbuġ by connecting its existing six-storey respite home to a new five-storey facility to be developed instead of a town- house in the narrow Triq Paris. The request is to demolish the townhouse, retain the façade and add three storeys and an underground car park, to house eight residential rooms and two therapy rooms. The top two storeys will be stepped back to minimise the visual impact. But the SCH has expressed concern on the project's impact on Triq Paris which has a "high- ly legible and preserved street- scape" characterised by similar traditional houses that "merit inclusion" in Zebbug's Urban Conservation Area located just 36m away. Moreover, the property ear- marked for development is al- so considered to have cultural heritage value, evident from several traditional features, including the cornice on the façade and a formal entrance hall and staircase in the interi- or of the house. The SCH also warned that the proposal will result in an exten- sive blank party wall bearing on- to the existing preserved street- scape and which could have "a domino and negative effect" on the buffer zone for a scheduled windmill. The Superintendence has made it clear that it can on- ly consider an extra floor and a limited roof structure. With regards to the proposed dem- olition, the Superintendence is calling for the preservation of the entrance hall, stairs and front rooms which it wants in- tegrated in the development. The SCH does not have a ve- to on permits issued by the Planning Authority but its recommendations have to be considered in the assessment and eventual recommendation made by the case officer. More than 200 residents are objecting to the proposed de- velopment. The project is be- ing designed by XYZ Limited, a company owned by PL deputy leader Daniel Jose Micallef. Residents also expressed con- cern on the traffic impact on the narrow Triq Paris, and the effect on the structural stability of their houses which may be undermined by excavation. The care home was approved in 2018 and came as a result of the tireless fundraising initia- tives captained by ALS sufferer and activist Bjorn Formosa. The six-storey facility was approved within a residential zone with a height limitation of three floors. Back then, the case officer acknowledged that the proposed development exceeds the height limitation of the area. But noting the proposed use of the new facility, the PA's direc- torate decided to apply a policy regulating the heights of old people's homes, which permits an additional two floors over and above the number of floors permitted in the local plan, pro- vided that "the resultant design features a high-quality product in keeping with the urban con- text and no blank walls are cre- ated." Heritage watchdog warns of domino effect on Zebbug streetscape with Dar Bjorn extension Dar Bjorn in Zebbug at present (left) and how the extension will impact the streetscape (right) STEFAN Caruana is being nominated to succeed Rudolph Marmara as the Nationalist Party's organisational secre- tary. General secretary Michael Piccinino will propose Carua- na to the party executive, the PN said on Tuesday. Caruana, a theatre studies lecturer, began serving in the Gudja local council in 2013. He was re-elected in 2019. Caruana was also a candidate in the last general election. Caruana is the nephew of Raymond Caruana, a PN ac- tivist who was murdered in 1986 at the Gudja PN club in a drive-by shooting perpetrated by Labour thugs. The post became vacant after Rudolph Marmara resigned just 18 months after being ap- pointed. Marmara's resigna- tion followed that of several other party officials, some of which have not been replaced yet. Marmara cited person- al reasons for his decision to quit. The party thanked Marmara, who is staying on until Carua- na takes over. The position of organisation- al executive secretary was cre- ated in 2020 as part of a revi- sion to the PN statute. PN nominates Stefan Caruana as organisational secretary after latest resignation Caruana would succeed Rudolph Marmara, who resigned barely 18 months after being appointed to the position Stefan Caruana