Metropolis Towers

The M-towers, also known as the Metropolis Towers, are three towers that are proposed between triq d'Argens and triq Testaferrata within the limits of Msida, Malta, though often mentioned at Gżira and commonly known as the "Testaferrata site". The tallest of the three towers, at 33 stories, would become the tallest building on the island, surpassing the 98m Portomaso Business Tower. The towers would form part of a larger project, Metropolis Plaza, to include a plaza, shops and restaurants.[4][5] The building is set to affect the skyline of Valletta and the Grand Harbour. The Gzira local council did not object to the project.[6] The project is currently on hold and no development has taken place on site for years.[7]

M-Towers
Alternative names	Metropolis Towers
General information
Status	Under construction
Type	Mixed Use
Location	Gżira, Malta
Address	Testaferrata Street
Coordinates	35°54′02.6″N 14°29′30.3″E
Construction started	6 April 2015
Cost	€100 million
Height	106 m,[1] 87 m[2] and 55 m[3]
Technical details
Floor count	33, 27 and 13
Design and construction
Architecture firm	EM Architects
Developer	Metropolis Developments Limited
Main contractor	Metropolis Developments Limited
Other information
Parking	618

Site

The Metropolis project is being built on the site of the former Mira building, which since 1939 hosted the Mamo Brothers garage. The building was one of the few Art Nouveau/Art Deco buildings in Malta.

In the late 1970s, Mamo Brothers (1939) Ltd and its Mira building was taken over by the Zammit group formed by the sons of Eucharist Zammit who in the 1960s used to run the Malta-Gozo ferries.[8] The new Mira Motor Sales Ltd company was the Malta importer of Vauxhall automobiles, and introduced BMW to Malta, though the later lost the brand to Muscat Motors. They also sold Isuzu and Honda.

Planning and development

A consortium of Maltese entrepreneurs (including today's GlobalCapital) bought the site in 2006 and launched the real estate project on the Testaferrata site, foreseeing “a lifestyle building with all apartments having their own view and large terraces”.[9]

The project was aimed at giving new life to Testaferrata Street, which was associated with prostitution.[10]

Construction of the towers was supposed to start in 2007 and was estimated to be complete by 2016. The project was estimated to cost €60 million. However, the project was delayed by a number of years due to a lack of finance and permits.[6]

The land was then sold to developer Jalal Husni Bey, from Libya's HB Group,[11] who had originally foreseen "buy[ing] some apartments.[9][12]

The project was initially approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) on 12 March 2009.[13]

In 2013, Gzira mayor Roberto Cristiano claimed the building would give the locality "a fresh look" and "increase the value of surrounding properties" as well as "increase economic activity in Gzira and may also attract other investment opportunities". He conceded that it would also increase traffic and parking problems.[6]

In November 2014, MEPA approved a number of changes to the Metropolis project, including building a helipad on the roof of the highest tower, a larger car park and the creation of more public places.[14] The project is was then estimated at €100 million, almost double the original estimate.

The first stone was laid by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on 6 April 2015, few days ahead the 2015 Maltese local elections, [15] The early phase of construction was to be delivered by Maltese contractor Polidano, while the towers would be constructed by an Italian and a Dubai-based companies, whose names were not disclosed.[9] Nevertheless, no actual works followed, and the foundation stone was later removed. By 2017, it was claimed that the project had still not secured financing.[16] The escavated site remains known by the locals as "the big hole".

According to the representative of the developer, the delays were due to the need to create more parking spaces around the towers. Since the land surrounding the project was not government-owned, the government requisitioned it, and the Lands Authority in October 2016 issued a tended to ensure that Metropolis could obtain access to the space beneath the roads and excavate for two further floors underground, beneath sea level. [17]

Husny Bey claimed that “high rise projects usually scare a lot of people because they would not be used to it. However, we have to recognise that they are a must and every country should have a designated area for high rise buildings.”[9] Husny Bey praised Malta's prime minister Joseph Muscat and those “calling the shots who have been very helpful”, while describing as "very painful" the process of dealing with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.[9]

In 2019, Husny Bey's business partner Keith Seychell claimed that the project is still on the table, but that Husny Bey could not find a general contractor to take it forward. [18]

A social impact assessment study carried our in August 2019 found great construction fatigue among residents of Gzira, Msida and Ta’ Xbiex. Nearly two thirds of them disagreed with the Metropolis projects and other towers proposed for the same area. Residents lamented in particular air, noise and visual pollution, growing difficulties in finding parking, and growing distrust towards the construction industry. 41% insisted there were no positive impacts to the locality. [19]

See also

• Muscat Motors, across the street in rue d'Argens, Gżira
• Wembley ice-cream factory, across the street in rue d'Argens, Msida

References

1. "Metropolis Plaza Tower 1". emporis.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
2. "Metropolis Plaza Tower 2". emporis.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
3. "Metropolis Plaza Tower 3". emporis.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
4. Macdonald, Vanessa (5 July 2007). "Aiming high". Times of Malta. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
5. "Reaching new heights". Times of Malta. 9 December 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
6. Andrew Azzopardi, Malta Today, 2013
7. p. 7
8. Zammit Group
9. Malta Today, 2015
10. Fenech, Gerald (5 August 2007). "Gzira to switch off the red light". Malta Today. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
11. The Defiant Developer, Times of Malta, 2014
12. Metropolis.com.mt, Promoters
13. "MEPA approves Gzira high-rise development". Times of Malta. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
14. "Gzira's Metropolis Towers project to get more parking spaces, helipad". Times of Malta. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
15. "Foundation stone of the Metropolis Plaza in Gzira laid". Times of Malta. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
16. Times of Malta, 2017
17. Malta Today, 2018
18. Business Today
19. Malta Today, March 2020