Prostitutes to relocate due to tallest building project

The construction of Malta’s tallest building in Gzira’s Testaferrata street is not enough to eradicate the stigma of Malta’s prostitution hub, Gzira Mayor Roberto Cristiano tells Illum.

“They will simply relocate to a nearby area or locality,” he says.

The €60 million project known as ‘Metropolis’ is set to start in a couple of weeks. A spokesperson for the developers said the successful bidding constructor will be chosen shortly with the construction process to take around three years.

One of the buildings will be 33-storeys tall, thus becoming the tallest building in Malta. Subsequently, the building will also affect the skyline of Valletta and the Grand Harbour. The Gzira local council did not object to the project.

“One should take everything into perspective. The building will seek to give Gzira a fresh look and will also increase the value of surrounding properties. The investment will also increase economic activity in Gzira and may also attract other investment opportunities,” the Gzira mayor said.

Roberto Cristiano conceded the building would increase traffic and parking problems.

The construction of the project has been in the pipeline since 2006 after a consortium of Maltese entrepreneurs bought the land. However, none of the local banks could back the project in the context of the economic recession.

Consequently, the land was sold to Libyan Jalal Husni Bey, whose family is renowned for its various projects in Libya.