Guest Post: Valletta And Its (Noisier) Future
In 2014, I began my deep dive to all that is Valletta by caring for the properties of a number of landlords throughout the city and welcoming foreign guests to the capital.
There was then a general excitement of what the city can become, especially with the growing knowledge of its upcoming role as a European Capital of Culture.
Throughout the subsequent years, I was exposed to thousands of guests wanting to stay in, and explore, Valletta with all its beauty and wrinkles.
The general profile of a tourist who would specifically choose to stay in Valletta is distinguished, being an older generation and affluent (in comparison to those who would stay in the Sliema, the St Julian’s area and Qawra).
They also tend to be more discerning, such that they would want to stay in the capital for its culture, and in the knowledge that they are residing in a 400-year-old walled city. Furthermore, they were ready to pay to stay in apartments and boutique hotels priced at the best that Malta has to offer, simply for the honour of residing in Valletta, and being at the centre of political, juridical, and cultural life, which provided them with countless hours of intrigue.
The majority of the local residents or Beltin enjoyed seeing their city come to life, from the restoration of their buildings and revitalisation of the memories of the city’s past and its pivotal role in Maltese society, to the arrival of new neighbours.
The Beltin know their history, and that of their homes such that throughout their history many buildings functioned as either residential and/or commercial properties.
Numerous properties have been hived off, leading to the term kamra misruqa, though these intricacies are what make Valletta.
Some fond memories are of managing a property that was once a stable and another that was once used to keep goats. A number of the local residents may be older, and with many not having a lift in their building, leading to a local characteristic of lowering a bread basket from their Maltese balcony, tied to a thin string for the bread van to supply with fresh produce.
Whilst every city must move with the times to remain relevant – something the Beltin are well aware of – the legislation L.N. 161 of 2022 and its allowance of outdoor music till 1am was implemented with a lack of sensitivity to the social bonds and characteristics of the various streets.
Take, for example, Merchant Street – the central part may be pedestrianised and commercial, featuring shops, eateries and louder establishments, yet there are still residents in a number of the upper floors of the buildings.
Furthermore, the lower part of Merchant Street is primarily residential, with minimal commercial activity in the context of the street. This situation is played out in the other named Valletta streets – Old Bakery Street, Old Theatre Street, Republic Street, South Street, St Lucia Street, and Strait Street.
Furthermore, under this blanket legislation, no key specification was provided on the type of music that could be provided.
For example, from a logistics perspective, it is cumbersome to have a live band or, for that matter, a sole musician play in Strait Street, being that any patrons standing in front of the musician/s are blocking the passageway of one of Malta’s narrowest streets. However, having the same musician/s play in Merchant Street or Republic Street, allows the patrons to enjoy the music at a comfortable distance and not block the passageway at the same time.
Late night patrons
I can certainly vouch that while outdoor music may, in the past, have been allowed to 11pm, a “wise” bar owner would simply close the door with the patrons still inside, and continue playing their music. Such action would provide a semblance of calm from the outside, but the music’s bass would reverberate throughout the old stone building that the entertainment venue is located in, and those adjacent to it.
Speaking from experience, there was an apartment where the owner we represented had sound-proofed the residence to reduce the number of complaints that we received in relation to the third-party bar at ground floor level.
It’s worth noting that sound proofing a Valletta property, while simultaneously preserving the characteristics that make the property, is an expensive challenge that only the better designers can hope to accomplish in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Ultimately, a reduction in a night’s disturbance was noted, though it was not entirely successful.
When tourists are unable to have a restful night’s sleep, they will simply leave the property – even when forewarned at the booking stage that there is a bar in the vicinity of the property and this being reflected in the reduced pricing.
They then leave a negative review of the property and may even request a refund for their stay.
A local resident, on the other hand, can quickly become a prisoner in their own property, knowing that they can either put up with the cacophony, and continue enjoying the socio-economic bonds that they have developed over the years, or pack up and leave, depriving the city of what makes it what it is.
It must also be borne in mind that once the bars close for the night, the revellers will need to make their way home, speaking in what, at that point, would be quietened streets, further disturbing the residents and guests resting behind baroque facades.
Looking at it from a wider context, the longer this legislation is allowed to continue, the more likely that local residents’ voices will be drowned out in the disquiet of the noisier city.
Furthermore, whilst Paceville has been in a constant struggle to upgrade its product, there is a risk that Valletta will plateau at its current level.
Whilst balancing the interests of the local residents, hospitality, and entertainment industry is a constant struggle for any city as vibrant as Valletta, the truth is that the city we currently have is the beautiful amalgamation of the various factors each with their own attributes.
Ultimately, it is the local residents of the city who welcome us there, and they believed in its potential when others didn’t.
Thomas Cremona is the founder of Casa Rooms, a property management company, and a minor shareholder of VBL plc, a property company principally focused on Valletta real estate.
Lovin Malta is open to interesting, compelling guest posts from third parties. These opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Submit your piece at [email protected]
Do you agree with the above sentiment? Sound off in the comments