MICHAEL CARABOTT

Residents of Sliema are pulling out all the stops to try and overturn the decision to demolish the pre-1728 baroque house in Ghar il-Lembi Street and have now written to President Edward Fenech Adami appealing for him to invoke an emergency Conservation Order.

It has been a long-wrangled affair and so far, the house has only earned a stay of execution due to a mistake made by the developer and the stiff resistance the project has met from Sliema residents, who are being fronted by resident Astrid Vella.

Mrs Vella has garnered the support of some 500 signatories who signed the letter sent to President Fenech Adami.

But, to understand the case, one must put things into chronological order.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority first heard some 20 minutes worth of reports from the Heritage Management board and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage why the house should be preserved.

Yet, a vote was called and the DCC board immediately voted to demolish by four votes to two.

The residents also contend that the decision was taken because the information supplied by the developer was that the house dates back to about 1920. The developer also failed to point out that there was a well under the house belonging to a neighbour. This is no ordinary well, it’s a vaulted arch one and the neighbour contends any work to construct garages under the proposed four-storey building will damage the structure.

Meanwhile, residents made their enquiries and were told they had 30 days in which to appeal this decision. “Any logical person would reason that nothing can be done until the expiration of this appeals period. At no point were we told that the developer had the right to demolish even with the 30 days, once he receives his work permit,” Mrs Vella said.

She said the permit usually takes about six weeks to be issued but in this case the works permit was issued after just 10 days, giving the developer a full 20 days in which to demolish a house of almost 300 years, before the appeals process can halt the demolition.

In addition, while the appeal is being processed, the developer can continue to work, on condition that if the appeal is granted, he must restore the area to its original state. Pray, I ask, if the appeal is granted, how is the developer going to do that. Perhaps, he has built a time machine in order to take us back to 1728. While he’s at it, he might give us a lift through time to put all the other monstrosities that have blighted Sliema right too.

In the meantime, the residents turned out to protest when the work was due to start – however, the house earned a reprieve as the developer had forgotten to submit a notice of commencement of work.

Anyhow, in the meantime, a neighbour realised that the plans were in breach of regulations on two counts – one regarding the well, and the other regarding the height of the building.

He claims developers have violated the planning regulations in terms of excessive height of the four-storey building in relation to the narrow alley’s 3.5 metre width, proximity to third-party properties, excavation into a third party’s protected well and no mention of the demolition of the properties on High Street. He successfully filed for a prohibitory injunction – but how long that will keep the house safe, no one knows.

Mrs Vella also highlights: “What the MEPA spokesman did not even mention, was that a subsequent, more thorough examination by the Integrated Heritage Management corroborated what I have been saying all along.”

She quoted: “The building seems to have formed part of an old settlement in this part of Sliema, originally a simple and unassuming dwelling featuring traditional methods of construction... possibly subject to additional accretions and embellishments. There is a presumption against changes to the façade. This part of High Street is a Category A Street of high streetscape value. This building lies within the Sliema Urban Conservation Area. From the conservation point of view, the IHM agrees with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage that this building should be preserved.”

Mrs Vella contends: “This building forms part of an unbroken line of old houses in an Urban Conservation area and thanks to its age and unique balcony, meets the historic, architectural and scenic standards of Grade 2 scheduling.”

“As such this was a watertight case for preservation. The importance of this house goes far beyond its four walls. If this house goes down, then no old house in Malta short of the Auberges is safe from demolition. If MEPA caves in to the developers and this house is demolished, then MEPA will have confirmed its place as one of the strongest agents of destruction of our heritage since World War II,” she said.

Well, as stated, the residents have now written a letter (500 signatories) to President Edward Fenech Adami to try and obtain an Emergency Conservation order.

They have also tried to get in touch with President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, but to no avail. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi made his stance clear, saying that as Prime Minister he had to abide by MEPA’s decision and others should follow suit –although keeping his distance, he is being consistent at least.

The MLP meanwhile, promised to support the protest, but nothing came of it. The Greens, well two of them, were present – but it seems like no one apart from the residents seems to care what happens to this house.

It seems that we seek to promote our cultural heritage only when it suits us. This house is in an urban conservation area and although it’s not much to look at, it’s clearly a historical landmark. The fact that there were buyers queuing up to get their hands on it as an untouched residence speaks volumes. This house should not be demolished – it should be preserved. Ghar il Lembi Street, well the top part anyway, is one of the few areas in Sliema where the original buildings still stand. Are we really going to knock down these old buildings to build yet more aluminium 1970s style condos? To coin the chorus from the old song Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds: “Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky-tacky, Little boxes, little boxes, Little boxes, all the same. There's a green one and a pink one, and a blue one and a yellow one, and they're all made out of ticky-tacky, and they all look just the same.”

Yes it’s true, Sliema is full of boxes made of ticky-tacky and, they all look just the same.