Another typical Maltese townhouse may be entering the developers’ den as an application calling for President Emeritus Censu Tabone’s former residence in St Julian’s to be demolished and replaced by apartments has been put to the PA.

What's the application proposing?

The application calls for the “demolition of a derelict residential dwelling, the construction of three levels of basement garages, and fourteen residential units on four levels with a communal open space. The façade is to be designed in fair faced limestone with UCA characteristics,” as reported by The Malta Independent.

The application is an outline development application, meaning that it seeks to establish whether the scale and nature of such a development is acceptable by the Planning Authority in principle.

Din l-Art Helwa’s take

Din l-Art Helwa strongly opposes this application, so much so that they are recommending heritage protection status for the site. Having been the former home of a President, as well as including a garden theatre, the NGO is requesting this site’s inclusion into the list of scheduled properties as a Grade 2 (or higher) building. Din l-Art Helwa have also argued that this development will have a significantly negative impact on cultural heritage, including changing the streetscape, loss of the theatre, and the unjustified loss of the historical element.

St Julian’s mayor Albert Buttigieg also voiced his concerns in a Facebook post. “Our core village is under constant threat – this is the sixth mega application within our core village,” he says, adding that St Julian’s risks being lost as a result of development.