The Valletta local council has applied to restore and convert Mattia Preti’s old house on the San Salvatore bastions in Marsamxett into a hotel but according to Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar the council has got the address wrong.
“According to Victor Denaro’s book on Valletta houses, Preti’s house was at No 10, St Patrick Street, Valletta and not on Marsamxett Road. The artist’s house was demolished in the 1950s to make way for the reconstruction of the Manderaggio area,” Astrid Vella, FAA coordinator, said in a statement.
Yet, according to historian Judge Giovanni Bonello, the famous artist (1613-1699) had some five houses in the city during his 60-year stay here.
The only one whose precise location is known is on St Barbara Bastions and legend, or rather tradition, has it that he had another house overlooking Marsamxett and one in St Patrick Street, he said.
“Mattia Preti certainly had a house overlooking Marsamxett but which one exactly is not known. Some people say it is the one,” the judge said, referring to the one subject to the application.
The proposed hotel, which seeks to integrate a contemporary building with the abandoned 16th century period house, has recently made the news, with Chris Briffa, the project’s architect, defending the use of modern architecture in Valletta.
FAA pointed out that the property under application had been earmarked to become a home for the elderly. “It would appear to be more within the remit of a local council to make use of existing properties for such a social purpose rather than teaming up with private investors to go into business,” Ms Vella said.
There is also the possibility of Valletta losing its water polopitch, if the Malta Environment and Planning Authority grants the right to annexe it as the hotel’s beach concession.
“People who swim there with their families will lose another sizeable chunk of foreshore which by right belongs to the public” Ms Vella added.
Considering the few sports facilities available for Valletta’s youth, the council should have prioritised adequate management for the waterpolo pitch, she added.
Notwithstanding all this, the FAA said a hotel could be an asset to Valletta: “However, one hopes Mepa will ensure the property remains a hotel and does not eventually mutate into private apartments for the benefit of the developer.”
Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli said the aim of the council was not a speculative one, as was being insinuated.
“Valletta lacks hotels of a certain standard, with the best on offer being three-star. Moreover, the council aims to reinvest the income that would be generated from the development in the city.”
Dr Dingli said that as a third of Valletta’s population was over 60, an old people’s home was not feasible. A home would offer a limited number of spaces and many residents would not be accommodated.
So the council’s strategy was to have the right infrastructure for the residents to be able to continue living in Valletta.
He denied the council would even consider taking over the waterpolo pitch as a beach concession for the hotel. The pitch had deteriorated because of bad management and the council’s idea was to pass this on to the private sector.
The council wanted to revive its waterpolo team to what it once was, Dr Dingli said.