The Kojak-Jaber building, a symbol of modern architecture in Ramlet Al-Bayda, and home to one of the region’s most prominent philosophers and thinkers, is facing the threat of demolition. Since it is our collective duty, along with the advocates for the city’s social and cultural values, to protect this building and safeguard the remaining residents, we have drafted this open letter addressed to the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Beirut.
The open letter outlines our specific demands:
- We call upon the Ministry of Culture to utilize all available legal means to halt the planned demolition of the Kojak-Jaber building.
- We urge the Municipality of Beirut to propose an alternative housing program, offering support and incentives for the renovation of the building in exchange for transforming its vacant units into an affordable housing stock. This would restore the building’s social role, which it has played for decades.
For how long will we grant real estate developers full authority to determine the fate of their properties, and thus that of our city’s history and urban heritage? How long will we allow building owners the right to demolish or leave their buildings vacant? Should individual rights outweigh collective rights?
Read the Arabic article here.
