Works in the Mar Mikhael area blocked off the street before being suspended. (Photo sent to L'Orient Today by MP Ghassan Hasbani.)
BEIRUT — The Beirut Urban Lab at the American University of Beirut “was forced to halt" the Mar Mikhael Square project, the Lab announced Wednesday in a statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency.
“Given the fierce campaigns of misinformation and distortion that the project was subjected to, which led to a waste of time and obstruction of work, the work stopped despite the support of most of the residents of the region,” the statement said.
Launched in 2020 as part of post-port blast recovery efforts, the Mar Mikhael reconstruction plan aimed to improve the neighborhood's walkability and create pedestrian-friendly spaces.
The works were initially suspended in June after locals opposed the project.
One of the project leaders and former head of the Order of Engineers denounced "political" interference from Lebanese Forces MP Ghassan Hasbani and his brother Elie Hasbani. Hasbani told L'Orient Today that the works have been suspended until the construction plan is revised, after "families in the area signed two petitions and reached out to us complaining about those works that will cause traffic jams in the whole area."
The Urban Lab statement defended the project, saying it fell within the framework of "a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving people's lives and developing effective and safe paths for pedestrians.”
"The only change that can result from this project is to prevent cars parked in the second row, and this is currently possible, contrary to the traffic law, which is the main cause of congestion and a source of danger to traffic safety," the statement continued.
Some political parties claimed that the project did not meet the technical specifications, the Urban Lab reported. The Lab then said it presented the project to the Syndicate of Engineers and more than 250 colleagues specialized in civil affairs, "all of whom expressed their support for the project."
"The bankruptcy of some political actors and their inability to present any useful project in the region prompted it to incite hate against this project, clothed with slogans empty of any scientific or logical content, and to launch a slanderous campaign, ridiculous incitement and threats,” said the Urban Lab.
Mona Fawaz, a professor in Urban Studies and Planning and co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab at the American University of Beirut, told L’Orient Today that she believes that many of the locals that had originally supported the project turned their back on it after facing political pressure.
"After many attempts over the past weeks to explain the objectives of this project ... the Lab would like to announce to the public, especially the dozens of residents and shopkeepers in the neighborhoods who expressed their support for this project, that we were forced to stop working without a legal document."