Protection of Gemmayzeh District

Save the district of Gemmayzeh from more than 10 residential towers projects!
Sauvez le quartier de Gemmayze que menacent plus de 10 projets de tours residentielles!
ЗдЮРжЗ ЗбМгнТЙ гд ЗбГИСЗМ ЗбУЯднЙ ЗбЪФСЙ Збгджн ЗдФЗДеЗ Эн еРЗ ЗбНн ЗбКСЗЛн!

Find below the petition addressed to the Prime Minister (in 3 languages).

Sign the petition, with your full name and profession (architect, inhabitant or owner in Gemmayzeh district, simple user, tourist, student, etc.)

Please forward this link to all citizens you know that care about the character of this area!

The good news is that the protection of the neighborhood of Gemmayzeh has finally been achieved through the formulation of urban design regulation specifically for the area.
The bad news is that the ten proposed towers for the area that prompted the protection action in the first place, are exempt from the new rules and guidelines.
Does this sound like a joke about a banana republic! Still


Have already signed the petition:

Heritage NGOs:
National Foundation for Heritage,
APSAD,
OMRAN

Association of the inhabitants (Local Community):
ADG

Unesco: Lebanons Representative for Heritage:
Jade Tabet,

Former Director General of Urbanism:
Mohammad Fawaz

Former President of the Order of Architects:
Assem Salam,
Amin Bizri,

Head or Architects Branch at the Order of Engineers and Architects:
Sany Jamal

Professors of Architecture and Planning at AUB:
Howeida al Harithy,
Hana Alameddine,
Grйgoire Sйrof,
Abdul Halim Jabre,
Georges Arbid,
Mona Harb,
Mona Fawaz,
Habib Debs,
Zeina Maasri

Professors of Architecture and Planning at ALBA:
Georges Khayat,
Bachir Moujaes

Professor of Architecture and Planning at Lebanese University:
Lйon Tйlvisian,
Mousbah Rajab,
Yasmine Macaroun

Owners of frozen heritage buildings:
Dagher Family,
Sursock-Cochrane Family,
Doumani Family,
Khayat Family,
Mehanna Family,
Debs Family,
Abou Chalache Family,
Azar Family,
Metni Family

Restaurants and Pubs Owners:
SPOON, Yves Abboud,
TAPAS, Richard Kanaan,
BREAD, Nemr Abboud,
OLIO, Mazen Maroun,
SOTO, Samer Maroun,
LE ROUGE, Nabil Majdalani,
GOYA, Ahmad Jawad,
TORINO EXPRESS, Majed el Moussaoui,
DICE, Halim Sader,
GODOT, Charbel Nahed,
CORLEONE, Marwan Abboud
BARBU, Makram Zeeni,
LO, Carine Andraos,
PAUL, Nayla Gemayel,
HICKEYS, Hussein Mansour,
Charbel Atallah

Architects:
Grйgoire Sйrof,
Georges Arbid,
Jacques Liger-Belair,
Fadlallah Dagher,
Jean-Pierre Mйgharbaneh,
Divina Abou Jaoudй



PETITION FOR THE PROTECTION OF GEMMAYZEH DISTRICT

Mr. Prime Minister,
Mr. the Minister of Public Works and Transportation

We, residents of the Gemmayzeh neighborhood, who are attached to the traditional character of our neighborhood,
We, owners of houses with historic character, who are not allowed to practice our right to build on our land under the contention of protecting the character of this neighborhood,
We, merchants and owners of restaurants and tourist agencies in this neighborhood,
We, associations for the protection of heritage,
We, affiliates of the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut,
We, engineers, architects, intellectuals and students, who are protective of the last witness to the history of our city and the brilliance of our predecessors,
We, people of Beirut, who love and frequent this neighborhood, extend our thanks for the necessary and responsible measure, which you undertook through DGU and which issued and approved new regulations intended to protect this neighborhood against the threat of building high-rise towers doomed to distort its character.
We were shocked to find out that after a year of putting the neighborhood under a study by DGU which yielded the protective regulations, that projects for high-rise towers were exempted from these regulations which were issued in the first place to guide and regulate them. This is especially since there are, to this date, no such towers within the historic neighborhood which still retains its distinct character and remains rare in this regard.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that this exemption constitutes an unfair act towards the 75 owners of houses with historic character in Gemmayzeh who were not allowed by the government for almost a decade to practice the right to build on their own land under the contention of protecting the character of this neighborhood. The logical and immediate result will be for them to resort to submitting a complaint to the State Council against any ruling that permits the exempting of the tower projects from adhering to regulations.
Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Minister of Public Works and Transportation,
Will you allow the fortunate owners of the ten projects to build their towers inside the neighborhood, an act that will result in the destruction and distortion of the last of Beiruts historic neighborhoods? Meanwhile, will you force upon the great majority of owners regulations that take away from them the same right, a matter that is designed to guarantee the towers, which will rise above their buildings, wonderful views overlooking these and neighboring houses of those who were robbed of their rights?
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that such decision will constitute a grave and unjust act and will seriously threaten the trust in the government agencies of your administration.
We would also like to draw your attention to the fact that the petitions submitted to you seeking exemptions were based on false reasoning. The new regulations do not forbid the building of these projects and do not change any of the existing floor area ratios. In fact, the regulations dictate guidelines that pertain to the building envelope only (greater width and length and lesser height).
Therefore and given our trust in the justice that has always guided your practice, ask you please to work diligently toward the immediate and fair application of the regulations equally for all owners and with no exceptions to those who have the means to pressure and lobby while others have no means or access to submit their petitions and requests to your office.
We permit ourselves to note that this matter which we ask that you resolve demands your immediate intervention, since the permit files for these projects will be forwarded by the DGU to the Municipality of Beirut within three days.
We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation.


PETITION POUR LA PROTECTION DU QUARTIER DE GEMMAYZEH

Monsieur le Premier Ministre,
Monsieur le Ministre des Travaux Publics,

Nous, habitants de Gemmayzeh attachйs au caractиre de notre quartier,
Nous, propriйtaires de maisons а caractиre historique privйs du droit de construire nos parcelles au nom de la conservation du caractиre de ce quartier,
Nous, commerзants, restaurateurs et agents йconomiques du secteur du tourisme,
Nous associations de dйfense du patrimoine,
Nous membres de lOrdre des Architectes de Beyrouth,
Nous, architectes, intellectuels, universitaires et йtudiants attachйs а ce dernier tйmoignage du passй de notre ville et du savoir faire de nos aоnйs,
Nous, enfants de Beyrouth qui aimons et frйquentons ce quartier,
Nous vous remercions de linitiative nйcessaire et responsable prise par vos services, notamment la Direction Gйnйrale de lUrbanisme, qui a dйcidй le 13/9/06 dappliquer une nouvelle rйglementation pour protйger ce quartier menacй par la construction de tours qui allait dйfinitivement en ruiner le caractиre,
Nous vous exprimons cependant notre consternation dapprendre quaprиs un an de mise du quartier sous йtude ayant abouti а la dйcision salutaire de la DGU, ces mкmes projets de tours vont кtre exemptйs du rиglement en raison desquels il a йtй crйй, dautant plus quaucune tour de ce type nexiste encore dans ce quartier historique jusquici miraculeusement prйservй,
Nous vous prйvenons que cette exemption est une injustice inacceptable faite aux 75 propriйtaires de maisons а caractиre historique qui, dans le secteur de Gemmayzeh, ont йtй privйs par le gouvernement depuis bientфt dix ans du droit de dйvelopper leurs parcelles, prйcisйment au nom de la prйservation du caractиre de ce quartier. Leur recours en Conseil dEtat sera la consйquence logique et immйdiate de toute dйcision dexempter les projets de tours, dont les dossiers ont dйjа йtй soumis, de lapplication du rиglement durbanisme.
Monsieur le Premier Ministre, Monsieur le Ministre des Travaux Publics, allez-vous autoriser dix bienheureux propriйtaires а йlever des tours considйrables en broyant le dernier quartier historique de Beyrouth, et imposer dautre part а limmense majoritй des autres propriйtaires une rиglementation qui les dйpouille du mкme droit et qui assurerait йternellement aux tours qui les surplombent une vue imprenable sur les maisons de leurs voisins spoliйs?
Nous vous alertons quune telle dйcision sera perзue comme йtant injuste et cynique et risque de fortement discrйditer les institutions dont vous avez la charge,
Nous attirons votre attention sur le fait que lexemption de ces projets vous a йtй demandйe pour des raisons trompeuses puisque la nouvelle rйglementation nempкche pas la construction de ces parcelles, et laisse inchangй le coefficient dexploitation actuel. En effet, ce rиglement consiste uniquement en des directives concernant la forme des bвtiments (plus grande largeur et plus faible hauteur),
Pour cela, confiants dans le sens de la justice qui a toujours йclairй votre conduite, nous vous demandons dagir durgence pour que la rиglementation soit appliquйe dune maniиre immйdiate et йquitable а tous les citoyens, indйpendamment des moyens de pression dont disposent les uns et de la difficultй de la majoritй des autres а vous faire parvenir leur demandes lйgitimes.
Nous nous permettons dattirer votre attention sur le fait lintervention que nous vous demandons nйcessite dкtre traitйe avec la plus grande urgence, car dans trois jours ces permis seront transmis par la DGU а la Municipalitй de Beyrouth.
Nous vous en remercions davance.



ЪСнЦЙ гд ЗМб НгЗнЙ Нн ЗбМгнТЙ

ПжбЙ СЖнУ гМбУ ЗбжТСЗБ
гЪЗбн жТнС ЗбГФЫЗб ЗбЪЗгЙ жЗбдЮб

дНд УЯЗд Ннш ЗбМгнТЙ ЗбгКгУЯжд ИЗбШЗИЪ ЗбКСЗЛн бНншдЗ
дНд гЗбЯж ЗбИнжК РЗК ЗбШЗИЪ ЗбКЗСнОн ЗбгНСжгнд гд НЮдЗ ИИдЗБ ЪЮЗСЗКдЗ ИНМЙ ЗбгНЗЭЩЙ Ъбм ШЗИЪ еРЗ ЗбНн
дНд ЗбКМЗС жГХНЗИ ЗбгШЗЪг жЗбгДУУЗК ЗбУнЗНнЙ Эн еРЗ ЗбНнш
дНд МгЪнЗК ЗбгНЗЭЩЙ Ъбм ЗбКСЗЛ
дНд ЗбгдКУИжд Збм дЮЗИЙ ЗбгедПУнд Эн ИнСжК
дНд ЗбгедПУжд ЗбгЪгЗСнжд жЗбгЛЮЭжд жЗбМЗгЪнжд жЗбШбЗИ ЗбгКгУЯжд ИВОС ФЗеП бКЗСнО гПндКдЗ жбгеЗСЙ ГУбЗЭдЗ
дНд ГжбЗП ИнСжК ЗбРнд нНИжд жнСКЗПжд еРЗ ЗбНн джМе бЯг ЗбФЯС Ъбм ОШжКЯг ЗбЦСжСнЙ жЗбгУДжбЙ ЗбКн ЗКОРКгжеЗ гд ОбЗб ЗбгПнСнЙ ЗбЪЗгЙ ббКдЩнг ЗбгПдн ЗбКн ЮССК ЗЪКгЗП дЩЗг МПнП неПЭ Збм НгЗнЙ еРЗ ЗбНнш ЗбгеПП гд ЮИб ИдЗБ ГИСЗМ УКДПн Збм КФжне ШЗИЪе.
жЮП ГХЗИдЗ ЗбРежб ЪдПгЗ ЪбгдЗ Зде ИЪП гЦн УдЙ Ъбм жЦЪ ЗбНн КНК ЗбПСЗУЙ ЗбГгС ЗбРн ЗПм Збм ЗХПЗС ЗбдЩЗг ЗбЗдЮЗРн гд ЮИб ЗбгПнСнЙ ЗбЪЗгЙ ббКдЩнг ЗбгПдн УнКг ЗУКЛдЗБ гФЗСнЪ ЗбГИСЗМ еРе гд ЗНЯЗг еРЗ ЗбдЩЗг ЗбРн жЦЪ ЗХбЗр бСнЪеЗ жКдЩнгеЗ бЗ УнгЗ Зде бЗ нжМП бЫЗнЙ нжгдЗ еРЗ Зн ИСМ гд еРЗ ЗбджЪ ПЗОб ЗбНн ЗбКЗСнОн жЗбРн бЗ нТЗб нНЗЭЩ Ъбм ШЗИЪе ЗбггнТ Збм Збнжг ИФЯб Юб дЩнСе.
дНнШЯг ЪбгЗр Зд еРЗ ЗбЗУКЛдЗБ нФЯб ЗМСЗБр ЩЗбгЗр ИНЮ 75 гд гЗбЯн ЗбИнжК РЗК ЗбШЗИЪ ЗбКЗСнОн Эн Нн ЗбМгнТЙ жЗбКн НСгК гд ЮИб ЗбНЯжгЙ гдР ЮСЗИЙ ЗбЪФС УджЗК гд НЮ ИдЗБ ЪЮЗСЗКег ИНМЙ ЗбгНЗЭЩЙ Ъбм ШЗИЪ еРЗ ЗбНн. Зд бМжЖег бКЮПнг ФЯжм Збм гМбУ ЗбФжСм УнЯжд ЗбдКнМЙ ЗбгдШЮнЙ жЗбЭжСнЙ бГн ЮСЗС ндХ Ъбм ЗУКЛдЗБ гФЗСнЪ ЗбГИСЗМ гд КШИнЮ ГНЯЗг еРЗ ЗбдЩЗг.
ПжбЙ СЖнУ гМбУ ЗбжТСЗБ гЪЗбн жТнС ЗбГФЫЗб ЗбЪЗгЙ жЗбдЮб
еб УКУгНжд бГХНЗИ ЗбЪФСЙ ГИСЗМ ЗбгНЩжЩнд еДбЗБ ИЗдФЗБ ЗИСЗМег ПЗОб ЗбНн ЗбГгС ЗбРн УнДПн Збм УНЮ жКФжне ВОС Нн КЗСнОн Эн ИнСжКї жИЗбгЮЗИб еб УКЭСЦжд Ъбм ЗбЫЗбИнЙ ЗбУЗНЮЙ гд ЗбгЗбЯнд ЗбВОСнд дЩЗгЗр нМСПег гд ЗбНЮ РЗКе ЗбГгС ЗбРн УнДгд ббГИСЗМ ЗбКн КЪбж гИЗднег гдЗЩС СЗЖЪЙ гШбЙ Ъбм еРе ЗбИнжК жЪбм МнСЗдег ЗбгУбжИн ЗбНЮжЮї
ЗддЗ дбЭК ЗдКИЗеЯг Збм Зд ЮСЗСЯг еРЗ УнЪКИС ЩЗбгЗр жЫнС гНЮЗр жГде неПП МПнЗр ИТЪТЪЙ ЗбЛЮЙ ИЗбгДУУЗК ЗбКн Эн ЪеПКЯг.
дбЭК ЗдКИЗеЯг ГнЦЗр Збм Зд ШбИЗК ЗУКЛдЗБ еРе ЗбгФЗСнЪ ЮПгК ЗбнЯг бГУИЗИ жЗенЙ ЕР Зд еРЗ ЗбдЩЗг ЗбМПнП бЗ нгдЪ ИдЗБ еРе ЗбЪЮЗСЗК жбЗ нЪПб Зн гд ЪЗгбн ЗбЗУКЛгЗС ЗбНЗбннд. Эн ЗбжЗЮЪ нНПП еРЗ ЗбдЩЗг КжМнеЗК КШЗб ФЯб ЗбгИЗдн ЭЮШ (ЪСЦ жШжб ГЯИС гЮЗИб Ъбж ЗЮб ЗСКЭЗЪЗр).
жбеРЗ жЛЮЙ гдЗ ИЗбЪПЗбЙ ЗбКн бШЗбгЗ ГдЗСК деМЯг дШбИ гд НЦСКЯг ЗбЪгб ИЕбНЗН Ъбм КШИнЮ ЗбдЩЗг ИФЯб ЭжСн жЪЗПб Ъбм Яб ЗбгжЗШднд ИгЪТб Ъд жУЗЖб ЗбЦЫШ ЗбгКЗНЙ ббИЪЦ жХЪжИЙ ЗбГЯЛСнЙ ЗбИЗЮнЙ гд ЗбгЗбЯнд гд ЗнХЗб ШбИЗКег ЗбгФСжЪЙ Збм НЦСКЯг.
ЗддЗ дУгН бГдЭУдЗ ИбЭК ЗдКИЗеЯг Збм Зд ЗбЮЦнЙ ЗбКн дШЗбИЯг ИгЪЗбМКеЗ ККШбИ КПОбЗр УСнЪЗр гд НЦСКЯг ЕР Зд гбЭЗК ЗбКСОнХ ИЗбИдЗБ беРе ЗбгФЗСнЪ УКНжшб Збм ИбПнЙ ИнСжК гд ЮИб ЗбгПнСнЙ ЗбЪЗгЙ ббКдЩнг ЗбгПдн Эн ЫЦжд ЛбЗЛЙ ГнЗг.
жбЯг гдЗ МТнб ЗбФЯС жЗбЗНКСЗг