Valletta council drops plans for Mattia Preti hotel

The Valletta local council has dropped plans to construct a controversial hotel overlooking Marsamxett harbour, which integrated a contemporary design with 16th century mannerist architecture.

In 2011, the council had applied for the development of 40-room hotel perched on the edge of the Salvatore Bastion, which involved the restoration of an old townhouse where Mattia Preti was supposed to have lived, thus lending his name to the now aborted hotel.

Plans also included the development of two infill sites and the conversion of the waterpolo pitch into the hotel's lido and beach facilities.

Back then, the council had the intention of setting up a commercial company with the intention of becoming a partner in the running of the hotel.

Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli explained that application was withdrawn in view of "changed circumstances" which included a revival of the waterpolo club and the identification of the area as a Caravaggio hotspot in plans for 2018, when Valletta will be Europe's Capital of Culture.

He also attributed the change of heart to the feedback the council received from residents.

"We were listening and evaluating what the residents of the area were telling us. So we wanted to ensure that the area is regenerated while ensuring that everyone will benefit from this regeneration," Dingli said.

Residents in the area had objected to the fact that the proposed hotel will rise 16 metres above the narrow Old Theatre Lane, arguing that this would have an adverse effect on residents, denying them of light and air.

Dingli also announced new plans to regenerate the area with the cooperation of the new committee administrating the waterpolo pitch, which he describes as being very active.

"We agreed together with the president of the committee to include the pitch in a new proposal which the council will be submitting in the coming months for the uplifting and creation of a new path which will take people from Marsamxetto up to the Grand Harbour," he said.

This project envisions an upgrade of the whole waterfront from the Grand Hotel Excelsior to the Ta' Liesse waterfront. This will involve an upgrade of the waterpolo pitch and create space for cultural events close to the sea.

A site close to the townhouse formerly identified for the development of the hotel has also been earmarked as one of the Valletta 2018 proposals to become a "Caravaggio hotspot".

"The council believes that it would be better to align our proposal into something related to the V18 theme... something related to Caravaggio, Mattia Preti and other artists," Dingli said.

The council now plans to use the site as is and not add anything to it. "Apart from obviously restoring it," Dingli said.