[WATCH] Paceville masterplan: Businesses lay bare extent of foreseen damage

Paceville businesspeople have gone public over concerns that a controversial masterplan for the area will see their businesses expropriated at the stroke of a pen.

To mark the end of the public consultation period on the masterplan, the Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) organised a media walkaround of the area, where the press got to speak to the concerned businesspeople whose properties have been earmarked for expropriation.

The masterplan presented to the Planning Authority proposes the construction of some 20 high-rise towers and the widening, the tallest of which – the 35-storey Mercury House skyscraper – will overlook a revamped St George’s Plaza. This will effectively wipe out the business empire of Paceville mogul Frankie Grima, whose establishments – including Plush, Blackbull, AXM and the soon to be launched Sahara Lounge – are all in line for expropriation.

“Paceville does require embellishment, but one must take into consideration the damage and the jobs that will be lost as a result of this masterplan,” Grima told the press. “I have been in this business for the past 30 years and employ some 250 people. It’s not an easy thing….”

The proposed masterplan will also be particularly devastating to the Testaferrata Moroni Viani family, who owns the St George’s Park site – including the hotel and the recently built Aragon House Business Centre.

To make way for open spaces, the plan proposes that three side streets that lead up to St George’s Park cut right through the site towards St George’s Bay.

“Every block and building in St George’s Park will be either wholly or partially demolished,” Caroline Testaferrata Moroni Viani said, while dismissing the PA’s claims that it had offered them additional floor space as compensation for the expropriations.

The recently constructed Aragon House is in line for expropriation

The Paceville masterplan will prove devastating to St George's Park

After passing through St George’s Park, the widened streets will continue on towards St George’s Bay – knocking down Hugo Chetcuti’s Hugo’s Terrace in the meantime.

However, the Paceville mogul appeared relaxed about the situation, telling journalists that he is confident that the Planning Authority will take his proposals on board.

“Instead of knocking down [Hugo’s Terrace], why can’t the open spaces be shifted towards the beach, which will be expanded anyway? That way, no one will get hurt which is the important thing,” he said.

Elsewhere, the range of buildings stretching from Stylish Bathrooms Centre opposite the main Paceville bus stop, down the hill of Triq is-Swieqi and right towards the Ecabs headquarters and the sushi restaurant ‘Sushi Ba’ are also set to be demolished.

“It was a cold shower for me when I realized that the property I had been working on for so long is now set to be expropriated – it is a major headache for shareholders and workers alike,” Ecabs owner Matthew Bezzina said. “However, as a transport operator I realize that Paceville is currently unsustainable and requires a masterplan. Hopefully, any necessary expropriations will be carried out justly in a manner that will see all injured parties compensated fairly.”

The owners of the relatively new Sushi Ba right next to Ecabs were not as sympathetic, questioning why they hadn’t even been consulted once over the masterplan.

“We were shocked when we found out that our business was set to be knocked down and our landlord was quite surprised too,” Nick Camilleri said. “Given that so many people were involved in this decision, one would imagine that we would have been informed too. It’s unfair that we were never informed of our fate, that no one [from the authorities] has spoken to us till this date, and that we have no idea what will happen to us.”

GRTU calls for Paceville development cooperation

Philip Fenech, head of the GRTU’s leisure section, called for the establishment of a development cooperation to design a bottom-up masterplan for Malta’s entertainment capital. This will be composed of government representatives as well as established Paceville businesses.  

GRTU's Philip Fenech (left) and Abigail Psaila Mamo (centre) with architect Martin Debono (right)

“GRTU is always on the side of progress but are adamant that businesses that have invested over time should not be overlooked but rather fully integrated in the core of policy-making,” he said. “The idea of a masterplan is a good start as a base for discussion and regeneration of the area but it must be ensured that we are not simply paying lip service when we say it is not cast in stone.

“Simply having the possibility of presenting one’s case to moving part of the proposal by a couple of metres to one side or other is not real consultation and we trust that this would not be the case.” 

He also insisted that Paceville requires immediate maintenance, irrespective of whether the masterplan passes or not. 

"Paceville's infrastructure, such as its roads, drainage systems and traffic management, needs to be improved now and the masterplan cannot be used as an excuse to delay the necessary works."