Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/732282
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2016 7 JAMES DEBONO THE mayor of Marsaskala is insisting that he will only take a position on the proposed de- velopment on the derelict Jerma Palace Hotel site after discuss- ing this issue with the local council, while underlining his agreement with the develop- ment of luxury apartments, high-rise structures and land reclamation in the area. A planning application pro- posing the demolition of the existing Jerma Palace Hotel, land reclamation works and the construction of a mixed- use development consisting of three high-rise buildings has been submitted by Porto No- tos Limited. The plans also envisage the construction of a breakwater, the re-routing of the public road and extension of a landscaped area around the St Thomas Tower. "Now that an application has been submitted we have some- thing concrete which can be discussed and I will ensure that the council discusses this mat- ter… We should discuss this not as Nationalists or Labourites but as councillors who have the interest of the locality at heart," mayor Mario Calleja said. Asked specifically whether he was aware of the proposed de- velopment, Calleja confirmed that he has been in contact with the developers. "I prefer not to rely on ru- mours and hearsay and as may- or I feel it is my responsibility to check on what is being pro- posed in my locality with those who are directly involved… So yes I have talked directly to the developers." Calleja also reiterated his po- sition against reversing the area to its natural state after demol- ishing the Jerma site, insisting that he has the interests of the locality at heart. "Why shouldn't Marsaskala have a hotel and upmarket de- velopment as other localities like Sliema and Msida have?" Asked whether he agrees with the development of apartments apart from a reconstructed hotel, Calleja replied that he agrees with a "boutique hotel" accompanied with upmarket luxury apartments, which com- plement the villas in that area. The mayor's position contrasts with a submission made by the council in July 2015 on a pre- vious application presented by the site owners, the Montebello brothers, in 2008. A letter sent by the council's executive sec- retary, Josef Grech, states that "the council is opposed to any application which includes the development of apartments." The council declared "that since this application includes apartments it is against it." Moreover the council added that this stance "applies to any application submitted on this site in the future." The mayor also said that from the information the develop- ers gave him the project will include the rehabilitation of the Maghluq area, a new prom- enade and even a sandy beach. Asked whether he agrees with high-rise development in the area in view of the council's strong stance against the des- ignation of Marsaskala as a site for medium rise development, Calleja insisted that the coun- cil was against this policy when applied on existing apartments and not on the Jerma site. "I prefer development on the Jerma site to be vertical than horizontal as it would create more open space… it is accept- able as long as it does not ob- struct the views of the existing villas and if it does not obstruct the views of the San Tumas tower, as seems to be the case from what I have been told." One of the advantages of high- rise development, according to Calleja, is that of having under- ground parking. "One of the arguments made against this development is that it would take up parking spaces. But in fact such a project can help solve parking problems." He also justified land reclama- tion, arguing that the site needs a breakwater, which would fa- cilitate the mooring of boats in the area. He also added that some luxury apartments might be located on reclaimed land. PN councillor lashes at Frankenstein developers PN councillor Charlot Cassar, who filed a motion, seconded by the Labour deputy mayor, Desiree Attard, urging the gov- ernment to buy back the site and turn it into an open space for the public to enjoy, was op- posed by the mayor and the mo- tion was rejected. He said that the application confirmed his worst fears. "If anything, this proposal for a high-rise on the foreshore, where previously there were only a maximum of three f loors above street level, is much worse," he said. Cassar lashed out at the con- struction magnates "who are emulating Doctor Franken- stein". "They are being allowed to create monstrosities that will destroy the little which we have left. It is more than ever the time to take steps to reverse the trend of the expansion of the concrete jungle which is engulf- ing all the islands in the name of money." The birth of Porto Notos Project proponents Porto No- tos Ltd is a company formed in September 2013 and is owned by developer Charles Camilleri, known as il-Franciz, and law yer Pierre Lofaro. Lofaro is married to Madam Justice Abigail Lofa- ro and chairs the Financial Ser- vices Tribunal. He owns 50% of Porto Notos. Lofaro's portfolio includes shareholding in a num- ber of other companies involved in the property business. Camilleri, who owns the other 50% of the company through White Oak Limited, is a share- holder in a number of other property development compa- nies including Develcon Lim- ited, Camcas Ltd and Camland Holdings Ltd. The site presently occupied by the derelict Jerma Palace Hotel has been valued by a court ex- pert at €20.8 million. A judicial sale by auction for October has been "suspended", according to the justice services website. The sale was ordered by the court in an ongoing case instituted by HSBC Bank Malta against brothers Geoffrey and Peter Montebello's firm. In the application, Camilleri declares that his company does not own the land in question but had the consent of the own- ers when presenting the appli- cation. The number of storeys included in the high-rise blocks is not identified in the applica- tion, which is still at the pre- liminary stage. Although Marsaskala was not designated as a high-rise zone in the policy regulating build- ing heights approved in 2014, another recently approved pol- icy regulating hotel heights al- lows stand alone hotels located within the development zone to add an unlimited number of f loors. The Jerma site, including the foreshore, is located within the development zone. Marsaskala was also designated for medi- um-rise development of up to 10 f loors in the general policy regulating building heights. In 2013 the government had issued a call for expressions of interest in land reclamation projects which attracted 21 pro- posals. None of these projects has seen the light of day so far. The Planning Authority re- cently issued an enforcement order against the Montebello Brothers to clear out the site of the derelict hotel. The land originally belonged to the Franciscan Conventuals and Ivan Burridge, and was sold to San Tumas Holdings, which in turn sold it to the Libyan in- vestment vehicle Lafico in 1976. The Corinthia Group used to manage the hotel through a management agreement. The hotel was never developed since closing down in the 2000s and then sold to JPM (Monte- bello) Brothers in 2007. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt News Marsaskala mayor favours 'luxury apartments' at Jerma site PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION "I prefer development on the Jerma site to be vertical than horizontal as it would create more open space… it is acceptable as long as it does not obstruct the views of the existing villas" Marsaskala mayor Mario Calleja The Jerma site, including the foreshore, is located within the development zone. Marsaskala was also designated for medium-rise development of up to 10 floors in the general policy regulating building heights.