Valletta residents slam Evans Building hotel project revival
NGOs say reinstating the concession is 'the last nail in the coffin' for plans to turn the landmark into a community hub
Valletta residents have slammed the reinstatement of the Evans Building concession to a private consortium, saying it marks “the last nail in the coffin” for plans to transform it into a much needed community centre.
Earlier this week, a court overturned an order to reevaluate a €300 million tender and reinstated Valletta Luxury Projects as the winning bidder.
Located near Fort St Elmo, the Evans Building is considered a prime site for tourism. The concession covers the regeneration, design, management, operation, maintenance, and eventual handing back of the Evans Building in Valletta as a “superior quality tourism accommodation establishment”.
However, ResidentiBeltin and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar argued Evans Building could have better served locals’ and tourists’ needs by being transformed into a 24/7 community clinic.
In a joint statement, the NGOs pointed out the nearest health centre for anyone in Valletta is “at the far end of Floriana, out of easy reach of elderly residents and injured tourists”.
“Evans Building is the only structure in Valletta that could accommodate elderly residential care, childcare facilities near a school, a civic hub for essential services, and accessible community space,” the NGOs said.
“What is the justification for a mega-hotel when over the last 10 years, 100 hotels and tourist accommodations have set up in Valletta, increasing pressure on its infrastructure.”
The NGOs insisted Valletta is a “living city” and public buildings “should never be handed over to tourism interests when residents’ more pressing needs are not met”.