Comments on: Building boom transforms heart of Beirut

By: Al

Al — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:23:54 +0000

Im an Australian born Lebanese guy living in Sydney (recently voted one of the top 3 most expensive cities to live in, in the world). I have currently mad two holiday trips to Lebanon in the past year, and let me tell you…. Beirut is just as expensive (if not more so) than Sydney. Everything from real estate, to food, going out, taxi services etc (and lets not mention the over-priced retail chains). I do not understand how the lebanese people are surviving.
One person whome I praise and highly respect is Ms Nada El Hallak from APSAD who is trying to save what is left of the old beirut buildings. Coming from a fully developed western nation, the one thing I noticed was the minimising architecture and old lebanese landscape. If beirut becomes just like any other modern city like Sydney or Chocago etc, there will be nothing to seperate it from these other cities, which is a pitty.
Understand this people,especially Lebanese citizens and ex-pats….lets all back the cause of Ms El Hallak and APSAD before there is nothing left. We got to make beirut a significant historic landmark…lets see how we can help. God Belss Beirut and God bless Lebanon!

By: Lebanese

Lebanese — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:46:29 +0000

Nazih is SO RIGHT! Modernity is a great thing but we should be focusing a little more on the welfare of the Lebanese citizens. If this trend continues, I think most of the country will be owned by foreigners.

If the economy improves from within, this will create more jobs and will also encourage investment and make it more affordable for the Lebanese people living in Lebanon to invest in their own country. Talk about focusing on manufacturing, alternative energy and so on and so forth. Tourism and building skyrises are great but nowhere near sufficient to establish a sound economy.

By: Nazih massoud

Nazih massoud — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:23:44 +0000

It is very clear that booming in Real estate,modernity,and growth in business is good thing for the country.but don’t you think we should concern for the welfare of our citizen,while the inflation and high cost of living sky rocket uncontrollable,when most of Beirut may become owned by foreigner?

By: hamama

hamama — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:21:21 +0000

i appreciate alot of the comments that people generally make when they complain about the new skyrises, but the country cant stay the same forever. housing is a big part of that. people really shouldn’t be so scared of modernity. we need to industrialize if we’re gonna make it within a global economy. its the only way to work

By: Nazih massoud

Nazih massoud — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:22:59 +0000

It is astonishing the way BEIRUT LOOKS LIKE;With the high rise building,modern hotels,highways,beeches,gorgeous scenery,and the lovely views.It is breath taken.Beirut is the marble city of the Middle East.The foreign countries are pouring money investing in real estate and businesses.That is a good thing.The bad thing and the worst of all is the inflation and high cost of living.Soon the city will be only for the rich if it’s not so already.Low income and middle class people will be pushed out and suffer the consequence.I don’t thing there is middle class,only rich and poor.I am wondering!are all those building occupied or vacant.what do they do with it? Are we going to face a market crash in real estate in Beirut as happened in USA? All i hope for the best;but it is very scary.

By: Dalal

Dalal — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:14:47 +0000

Although this might look very modern and flashy its sad and scary..when I go to Lebanon I want to see the real Beirut with real Beiruti people walking about in markets and streets doing their shopping..I dont care about glass fake buildings which dont belong to us..I want my relatives and our people to be able to enjoy their country and to afford buying even a little piece of realestate…

I want mothers and children to afford buying ice creams and shawarma sandwiches when going shopping for Eid clothes in Souk Ayass and Souk Al-arman just like the old days..
I want every Lebanese to belong and share their city..
we dont want another Dubai and I bet you Louay tourists like to see the real people in real habitats when visiting other countries not investment empty dark buildings full of ghosts and foreigners…

This is very scary for people of Beirut throwing them in deeper poverty and prolong their struggle to survive in the midst of all economic and political hardships ..

I was born in Beirut and wouldnt like it any other way even with bullet holes.

WE DONT WANT TO SELL OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY BEIRUT

By: Louay Faour

Louay Faour — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:06:14 +0000

Btw great article, keep more of these kind coming in (and less of the silly sides of politics)

By: Louay Faour

Louay Faour — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:03:39 +0000

To start with the ‘bad’.. I dont see such a major problem with new towers being built instead of the old ones being kept, I mean phase 1 was all about renovating the old bullet holed buildings anyway, and now it looks fantastic.. we might not want a ‘2nd dubai’ but its always nice, especially for a modern city like Beirut, to have high rises. With the GOOD, I’m always GOB SMACKED, BREATHTAKEN AND AMAZED when I go to Beirut and see projects after projects rising and adding to the city’s beauty, history and modernity. I took my friend summer 09 and she was WOWed by what she saw.. Great city, great sights and great people!!