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Ammon News - Randa Habib’s Corner

A dear friend of mine shared with me her concern about the fate of Malhas Hospital, off the First Circle, that was built by her father, Dr. Kassem Malhas, in 1945, following news that its new owners, namely the Bar Association, plan to turn it into a hotel or mall.

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) should not give licence for such a transformation, not only because its location is already crowded, but also because this hospital has a rich history and an architectural value, which need to be protected by GAM’s “committee of heritage”.

The municipality has been trying in recent years to save what is left of Amman’s heritage. Many traditional buildings have disappeared and were replaced by modern constructions. For example, the famous hotel Philadelphia, downtown, with its rich history, should have never been a victim of bulldozers. Such mistakes should not be repeated.

Malhas Hospital is about a man, a doctor, who believed in the value of humanity. It’s about life and death. People were saved or died there, and children where born there.

Today, the new owners of the building can do whatever they want with it, but one assumes that a professional should not put private interest ahead of public interest.

Some ideas come to mind: The Health Ministry could transform the building into a public hospital or clinics to serve residents of Jabal Amman. It could also become a public library, or an exhibition hall for Amman’s heritage, which fits well in that tourist spot.

If the option of a hotel takes priority, then let it be a boutique hotel, similar to those done successfully in Lebanon and Syria. Boutique hotels preserve the heritage, while at the same time offering comfort and luxury, and generate considerable income.

* Jordan Times