Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531100
JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JANUARY 2025 NEWS Syrians breathe THERE was a breath of fresh air in Syria as a newly liberated pop- ulation ushered in the New Year with celebrations in downtown Damascus. This was the first new year's celebration in 50 years without a member of the Assad family in power. But as the country gradual- ly comes to grips with a new post-Assad reality, the situation on the ground for many Syrians remains dreadful. Syrian investigative journalist Mohammed Bassiki, founder of Siraj, an investigative reporting organisation, tells MaltaToday As the new post- Assad chapter in Syria starts being written, Syrian journalist Mohammed Bassiki speaks to Nicole Meilak about the situation on the ground Dwelling to replace Melita restaurant Massive care home proposed in Birkirkara's village core A single large dwelling is being proposed to replace the existing Melita restaurant in Balzan. The application, presented by Robert De- sira Buttigieg, will retain the existing build- ing and garden while removing more recent additions. The only significant change is the proposed swimming pool within the garden. Plans also include uncovering and re- storing an original fountain found within the garden grounds. The Malta Tourism Authority has already issued its clearance for the proposed change of use from a res- taurant to a residence, while the proposed design has been endorsed by the Design Advisory Committee, which advises the Planning Authority on design matters. The property, owned by the same family for the past 125 years, was listed for sale earlier this year with an asking price of €5.5 million. Despite this, the original owners submitted an application in July to convert the restaurant into a residence, shortly af- ter the property was put on the market. The application has been open for public con- sultation in recent weeks. The popular restaurant was closed after an 18-year lease for the use of the site as a restaurant was terminated last July, when the Melita Gardens were returned to the Buttigieg Desira family. The garden itself originally formed part of the grounds of San Anton Gardens, built by the Order of the Knights of St John in the early 17th century. The property was rebuilt as a residence in the late 19th century in its current Art Nou- veau architectural style. During the Second World War, it briefly served as a small ho- tel. AN old people's home com- prising of 110 rooms across five floors is being proposed in one of Birkirkara's characteristic old streets. The site is uphill from Valley Road towards St Mary's Church, along Triq il-Knisja l-Qadima. The retirement complex is being planned for a partly un- developed and abandoned site opposite Villa Chelsea, just a few metres from the old church. The neighbouring buildings are primarily traditional two- or three-storey structures. The application, filed by Ste- phen Azzopardi's St Claire Lim- ited, proposes the demolition of existing residential and office buildings overlooking Valley Road, as well as the excavation of the site to construct a four-lev- el public car park with space for 200 vehicles. The application is currently in the preliminary screening stage. The applicants are invoking a specific policy in the Central Malta Local Plan, which desig- nates the site for the develop- ment of an old people's home and a car park. The local plan, approved in 2006, cites Birkirka- ra's ageing population as justifi- cation for the allocation of this plot of land. According to the latest census, 4,512 of Birkirkara's 25,807 in- habitants are over the age of 65. The local plan also notes that the site along Triq il-Knisja l-Qa- dima is conveniently located near Birkirkara's commercial and so- cial centres and is close to the main public transport route that passes through Triq il-Wied. In its initial assessment of the application, the Superintend- ence for Cultural Heritage ob- jected to the total demolition of the existing building over- looking Valley Road, insisting that the proposed development should be in harmony with the traditional character of the ex- isting Urban Conservation Area. The local plan limits build- ing heights in the area to three floors, but a new policy adopted in 2017 to address the shortage of residential care allows two additional floors for old people's homes located in Urban Conser- vation Areas.