http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5372/dscn2392vp3.jpg


Why is it that the Holiday Inn (one of Beirut's largest buildings) still awaits renovation? I always thought that it was such a large structure with so much damage that finding an investor willing to commit the necessary resources was, and remains, an impossible task. However, considering the amount of money currently being poured into Lebanon's real-estate and tourism industries, such a hypothesis simply falls apart.

Indeed, the problem is not, and has never been a lack of investors. The effective owners of the hotel (an investment firm linked to the Kuwaiti government) have been anxious to renovate the structure and launch a new hotel for quite some time now (i.e. years). Unfortunately though, they are faced with an obstacle that is an all too familiar one in Lebanon: tenants who pay rent based on the old rent laws, and who refuse to leave!

How has this happened? How does a hotel host tenants?

Well, it turns out that even though the building carries the Holiday Inn logo, it was never entirely a hotel! Rather, it was split into two sections of roughly equal proportions: one section was the actual hotel, and the other was an office building. And today, it appears that there are a handful of tenants who refuse to leave their premises, and in doing so, prevent the building’s owners from realizing their plans.

Hi Beirut!,

In the future, could you please post the links to the sources for the text, images, etc. It's not that I or others don't trust the information you post, but it's just nice to always post the source for others to explore further and to provide credit where due as well.

http://lebanesebloggers.blogspot.com/2006/07/holiday-inn-downtown-whats-up.html

Oh,thanx Beirut!,NOW i know why :)

mmmm ok very intsersting ... but where are the offices

Hi Beirut!,

In the future, could you please post the links to the sources for the text, images, etc. It's not that I or others don't trust the information you post, but it's just nice to always post the source for others to explore further and to provide credit where due as well.

http://lebanesebloggers.blogspot.com/2006/07/holiday-inn-downtown-whats-up.html


Yes LC, you have a point I should have done that. Thanks for providing the link.

The image was taken by me though in 2005.

The image was taken by me though in 2005, what else should I cite for you?

The image is fine since it is yours. If it was from say a Lebanese photo gallery, then post the link to the gallery.

LOOK what i've found.

St. Charles City Centre (Ex Holiday Inn):
The project will include the rehabilitation of a large tower and its annex into a 5 star hotel (+400 rooms), furnished apartments, offices, shipping malls and cinemas. The estimated cost of the project is $100 million.
Owners : St Charles City Centre Company (Kuwaiti/Lebanese)
Status : Awaiting permits.

Hope things move fast.

^^ lool thats old Hassouny hehe, never realized

i know it's old,but i didn't know the name"saint charles city center",also what it's all about.

lol i know but im just saying it wont happen

Is it true the hotel was only open for like one week then the war started.

I'm sorry but that hotel holds a lot of bad memories from the war days (hassoun, Nadini, back me up on this) ... I say tear it down and rebuild something else in its site

Yes,this thing has to be demolished.building taller nicer building would be the perfect thing to do.

LOOK what i've found.

St. Charles City Centre (Ex Holiday Inn):
The project will include the rehabilitation of a large tower and its annex into a 5 star hotel (+400 rooms), furnished apartments, offices, shipping malls and cinemas. The estimated cost of the project is $100 million.
Owners : St Charles City Centre Company (Kuwaiti/Lebanese)
Status : Awaiting permits.

Hope things move fast.

Hassoun, I posted this somewhere back in April and Nadini and Lebanese_Cedar jumped on me for thinking it was a reality. Sad thing is it will never happen...

Very interesting, I had always wondered too why such a prominent building was left in such a state. I even thought maybe it was like a reminder similar to the industry showcase dome in Hiroshima (above were the bomb exploded) or like the church on the Kufurstendamm in Berlin, a reminder of never agiain.
I read that gunbattles were fought room to room in the holiday Inn?
And it was opened for a week! Wow!!!
Know I know the real reason- kinda sad!!!!!

^^ lol it was open for a week, thats fairly good enough, as in the hilton hotel was going to open the day the war started I think, lool, I say tear it down also, but the tenants wont give it up thats what I heard

^ There are no tenants in that building. Back in the days it had some syrians positioned there before they withdraw.

^^ but wasnt there some kuwaitis that owned the building and they refuse to hand it to solidere??

^^ I have no idea about the whereabouts of owners.. I was only clarifying that it's empty.

^^ ohh looool yesss we all know that, when I said tenants I meant the owners, sorry

ooppss.. I thought you mean occupants.. my mistake :)

^^ lol hehe. well then we all agree that is should be taken down or renovate it. I wouldn't mind it if it was smaller and didnt have such a huge impact of the skyline

I think it would be such a waste to just demolish it... It looks good next to the waterfront towers because its so wide while nowadays most towers are pretty narrow. It just needs MAJOR renovation, like making its facade all glass or something...

^^ that would be impossible unless they demolish it, they can't renovate it into an all glass towers

^^ that would be impossible unless they demolish it, they can't renovate it into an all glass towers

Actually it is quite possible. It's not uncommon to strip a building of its facade and put on a brand new facade on it.

^^ but in order to do that, it would be more expensive to strip it down and reput a new facade, might as well demolish it and rebuild it from zero so its top quality. From class experience (lol, acording to teachers), and I think you would agree also, the building will have problems in lets say 3 years (if it already doesnt have).

^^ but in order to do that, it would be more expensive to strip it down and reput a new facade, might as well demolish it and rebuild it from zero so its top quality. From class experience (lol, acording to teachers), and I think you would agree also, the building will have problems in lets say 3 years (if it already doesnt have).

It's actually usually not more expensive or difficult to strip a building of its facade and putting a new facade.

As long as the building's structure (the frame) is kept the same, you can completely change a building, both the inside and the outside.

Facade changes of buildings are actually quite common.

The most time consuming and expensive part of a building's construction is the actual foundations and the frame that makes it stand up. Anything else is merely the makeup of the building.

As long as the structural integrity of the building isn't being sacrificed, facade change is not difficult at all.

The Roman Tower in the Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel has actually gone through a couple of facade changes since it was built in the 1960's. It now looks nothing like the original. I will try to find some pictures.

^^ please do, I am curious.

Here is what the Roman Tower looked like originally when it was built in the 1960's (the tall tower):

http://www.phoenicia-ic.com/photoweb/big/history/06.jpg

Here's how it looks like now:
http://www.mea707.lrehosting.com/Beirutpost/100_0328.JPG

While it's not completely glassy, it's been changed quite a bit.

The Hilton under construction now was originally going to incorporate the frame of the old Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) building. They stripped the facade of the old Beirut Stock Exchange building and were going to put on a brand new facade and connect it to a new building. They decided against this and demolished the old Beirut Stock Exchange building because of complications in trying to attach an old building to a new building, so they thought it would be easier to start from scratch.

However, if they were not planning to build another building to attach it with, they would have very well went ahead with plans to put on a new facade on the old BSE building. It would have been much cheaper and quicker to do, since the structural frame of the building is already there.

^^ wow thats a nice old pic, however the current Phoenicia is without-a-doubt much better.

I love old pics of Beirut. We should have a thread for before&after pics (but not war pics) to show Beirut of the 60s vs. Today to see how it has changed.

I cant believe how well developped Beirut was in the 50-60's compare to other cities in that region... no wonder why it was called the Paris of the Middle East

I cant believe how well developped Beirut was in the 50-60's compare to other cities in that region... no wonder why it was called the Paris of the Middle East

It was the golden years...

I cant believe how well developped Beirut was in the 50-60's compare to other cities in that region... no wonder why it was called the Paris of the Middle East

We should be proud of tha,and work harder to make it even better in present and future times :)

Lately, I was informed that the owners of the old Holiday Inn (near Phoenicia Hotel) had hired a local engineering group to check the status of the foundation of the building. Moreover, these engineers are checking the condition of the framework of the building from level zero to the uppermost floor. Their report will give an ultimate decision for the future of that infamous building.

Oh,at least they r doing something,,,thanx nareg. for the update.

In my last post in this thread, I mentioned that an engineering group is studying the status of the building which will decide whether to demolish or renovate it.

Now, it seems their studies show that the building does not need to be demolished. Therefore, it will be renovated.

^^ This is good news, I'd rather see it renovated because I dont think the BCD will ever get a tower that massive again. Lets hope works begin soon...

Finally some good news even though they're very slow in making decisions

Gr8 news...Yalla,we wanna see it covered with green ;)

Tnxs Nareg for the info!

You know, this building reminds me of the Rotana Suites on Rouche, its very similar to it, hopefully it will get renovated just like the Rotana!

^^ Actually, it deserves a more drastic renovation than the Rotana. I am quite unimpressed with the simple unappealing renovation design of the Rouche Rotana.

Seconded.

mann if they can only split that holiday inn in half so it becomes two buildings and make it all glass it would make a huge impact in the Marina.

^^ i like this idea ... but i heard somewhere that they want to keep it in its current state as a reminder of the civil war .. is this tru?!

^^ i've heard something similar but I dont think so. Why would they keep that huge ugly thing in the Marina section where all new towers are springing up?? I also heard that theres a feud or something between Solidere and the owner of the hotel, i dunno im not sure

mann if they can only split that holiday inn in half so it becomes two buildings and make it all glass it would make a huge impact in the Marina.


wide towers are way nicer than the slim ones.

^^ to a certain point but not that WIDE, its like the size of Beirut its way to wide, but I'm saying it would look better if it was cut in two cuz it would look like theres more highrise in the area

^^ Actually, it deserves a more drastic renovation than the Rotana. I am quite unimpressed with the simple unappealing renovation design of the Rouche Rotana.

can u link me to the rotana page?

can u link me to the rotana page?

Hey John,

That thread is available here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=378143).

If you ever were curious to see how the place looked like after the war (and probably still does) from the inside?

http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/910/919/beirut/greenline/pictures/hotels-area/pictures.html

Interesting but rather sad no doubt...

The main site is this one here:
http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/910/919/beirut/greenline/greenline.html
you can click on a section of the map and it's got some photos taken around 1995-1996.

Lebanonwire, September 26, 2003
The Daily Star


Holiday Inn ruin to regain former glory
Bullet-riddled structure projected to get $100 million makeover
Habib Battah
Daily Star staff

Some 28 years after snipers first positioned themselves in the newly opened Holiday Inn, the Kuwaiti royal family have announced plans to restore the enormous bullet-riddled structure to its former glory.

“If all goes according to plan we will be opening our doors within the next four years,” said Elie Sehnaoui, the chief operating officer of the company which owns the project.

“I think the move represents a strong belief that despite the economic slowdown, the country is on the move in a positive way,” he added.

Dominated by Kuwait’s ruling Al-Sabah family, the hotel’s revamped board of directors convened its first meeting last July, and has proposed a number of options for the 150,000-square-meter war relic.

But with no final plans yet, early thinking suggests a partial return to the building’s original mixed-use concept, which encompassed a 440-room four-star hotel, a similarly sized adjoining office complex and a four-story underground shopping mall.

“It will almost certainly be a four- or five-star hotel,” said Sehnaoui, explaining that the only difference might be a possible conversion of office space into furnished apartments, or a reduction in hotel rooms.

The building’s famed rotating rooftop restaurant and panoramic elevators are also likely to be restored, he said, noting that the board plans to hire “a big name” for the architectural concept and international firms for project management and hotel consulting.

But more significant developments at the management level are likely to shape the overall development rate. For one, the hotel will no longer be a Holiday Inn due to pending legal disputes which Sehnaoui declined to discuss.

There is also a large question mark hanging over the reinvestment sum, which is projected to be over $100 million, which will raise the property’s value to at least $350 million, according to Beirut-based Ramco real estate consultants.
Although the Kuwaitis own a majority share of the property, minority Lebanese stockholders currently disagree about the prospect of pouring more money into it.

As a result, the Lebanese Abdini family, which holds at least 30 percent of shares, has been excluded from the five-member board, which includes chairwoman Sheikha Fadia al- Sabah, her father and Kuwaiti prime minister Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah, Lebanese lawyers Hoda Tabbara and Suham Harakeh, and engineer Sehnaoui.

But despite the Abdini family’s power to block major decisions, Sehnaoui has little doubt that the project will proceed.

A market survey, feasibility study, and damage report will all be commissioned in the coming weeks, he added, although the company believes the structure, which was designed to withstand an earthquake, is still stable.
Unfortunately, the 15 odd years of destructive civil war, which the building came to represent, also completely robbed it of its historical contents.
“I’ve walked through the whole thing and there’s nothing left. There are a couple of inscriptions on the walls, but nothing really attractive to take pictures of,” he said.





An article excert in 2005 stated:

As I climbed through the skeletal remains of a bombed out Holiday Inn -- a reminder of Beirut's brutal "hotel wars" when rival militias seized downtown high-rises and blasted away at each other -- I met representatives of a Kuwaiti sheik who had just purchased the 26-floor building and promised to reopen it in 2 to 3 years.

Is thhis is probably not a new ower but the same royal family??

^^ Thanks for finding this very interesting article...and the 2005 excerpt gives us some hope still. Obviously theres some serious red-tape and many unresolved issues that are stalling this project...but at least some effort is being made. And yes, it certainly seems like it is the same Kuwaiti family but they cant do much without the 30% Lebanese involved.

Yea the article was after the assasination of Hariri....and of course 2006 happened and everything after till now..so they are probably waiting

Holiday Inn Hotel: Ain al-Mreisseh
July 3, 2007

An April 16, 1976 issue of The National Review carried a short feature on what it called the “fall of the Holiday Inn.” The Harb al-Fanadiq or “War of the Hotels,” as it is known in Lebanon, peaked in that year, and for that reason, the hotels of Ain al-Mreisseh – both dilapidated like the Holiday Inn and renovated like the Phoenicia – still serve as a powerful reminder of the civil war:

The fall of the Beirut Holiday Inn is symbolic of Lebanon’s yearlong civil war. The Holiday Inn was the most conspicuous symbol of Western influence in Beirut, the most sophisticated and cosmopolitan city in the Mideast. When this oasis of culture, pleasure, and money was suddenly blasted by shellfire last October, the Christian Phalangists made the Holiday Inn their fortress; last month they were finally driven out. But no: look again! Here are the Phalangists creeping back in three days later, and the Moslems having to attack them all over again: a typically inconclusive conclusion.

The hotel was constructed by St. Charles, a Kuwaiti-Lebanese company, in the early 70s, and was functional for almost a year before civil war broke out across the country. Within months, the building was in shambles. Today, the Holiday Inn still looms over the city as an empty concrete block, bullet-ridden, with gaping mortar holes in its southern wall.

St. Charles owns the property, and unbeknownst to many, began renovating the building in 2000. The building is split into two sections of roughly equal proportions: the actual hotel and an office building. In an interview with Salwa Ajami from St. Charles, NOW Lebanon learned that they have renovated the office building, which now includes a local branch of the Lebanese Canadian Bank.

“The hotel was a battle field, where opposing militia men occupied different floors, leading to an enormous damage to the building,” Ajami said. After the Phalange was forced to retreat by a coalition of the PLO and other leftist militias, the Holiday Inn was used a base for conducting raids on other nearby Christian strongholds. By the end of 1976, the hotel along with Bourj al-Murr, the St. Georges hotel and other nearby structures were firmly in Syrian hands, and there they remained for the remainder of the war.

In 2003, the hotel was assigned to a new, undisclosed administration, with a plan to consider renovation schemes. The Holiday Inn certainly will not be rebuilt exactly as it was, but perhaps its concrete skeleton will lend itself to another commercial venture. With every reason to be cautious about their property investments in Lebanon after their experience in the civil war, St. Charles and the building’s new administration have decided to wait for the current political deadlock and crisis to cool down before they put too much money back into the old hotel.

^^ Who published this article?

Still no new information regarding its renovation but its nice to see that people are still hopeful and discussions are taking place!

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2096/suckmyivan3bv4.jpg
(Courtesy of suckmyivan)


^^ I didnt know you could see right through the building! This structure will need major work and this image truly shows just how monstrous this building is.

they sould just get rid of the buidling

Beirut- Its a site i just found....www.NowLebanon.com ...they also have articles on the Barakat Building and Saint George hotel. I was thinking about trying to put a Thread about the Saint George Past and present.

^^ Thanks its an awesome site! Go ahead with the St. George thread...I always thought it was necessary but that the building was cursed.

I would like to know what are the suggested plans for it, would they demolish it? is'nt it too close and too gigantic?
thanx

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8504/DSC04946.jpg
By Rabih_Alt (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/Rabih_Alt) at 2008-03-02

It'd be a pretty cool gesture to renovate it. The adjacent building is also cool looking, the one connected to it on the lower floors, with the rounded edges.

Many people died in that hotel and wasnt it used by snipers alot??? thats what i heard ....:banana:

The Holiday Inn should receive a major-league restoration and renovation into a hotel. Not sure of the office component, though. And I'm also not sure about the blue building with the rounded edges.

The thing that really annoys me is those holes. Why cant they just temporarily put cinder blocks so it isnt like that? You have muti million dollar apts..marina etc..and you have to look at that...Im surprised that if the owners arent willing..the developers didnt offer...

I would like to know what are the suggested plans for it, would they demolish it? is'nt it too close and too gigantic?
thanx

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8504/DSC04946.jpg
By Rabih_Alt (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/Rabih_Alt) at 2008-03-02


It would have to be taken apart stone by stone, just like the Carlton Hotel Tower in Raouche.

It would have to be taken apart stone by stone, just like the Carlton Hotel Tower in Raouche.

Or they could punch a hole in it. Get Architectonica to do something like their Atlantis building (anyone remember 'Miami Vice'?).

I don't think it will be demolished.

It will eventually one day be renovated.

There will be a renewed push to renovate it if the hospitality market in Beirut booms, but this is contingent on continued stability. If the country remains stable and sees continuously growing tourist numbers, it'll be renovated sooner.

This is there info anyone want to call them?:

St. Charles City Center
2nd floor, St. Charles City Center,
Omar Daouk street, Minet El-Hosn sector Omar Daouk street, Minet El-Hosn sector
Beirut Beirut
Liban Lebanon
Téléphone : ‎+961 1 365710 Telephone: +961 1 365710
Fax : ‎+961 1 365710 Fax: +961 1 365710
Date de création Creation Date 1964 1964
Forme juridique Legal Form Sal Sal
Capital Actions: Capital Actions: 20 000 000 LBP 20 000 000 LBP
Numéro d'enregistrement Registration number 14060 Beirut 14060 Beirut

^^They probably won't know anything new. The St. Charles City Center refers to the complex at the base of the hotel which was renovated to host events and conventions. If I recall correctly, the idea was to raise money to eventually finance the complete hotel's rehabilitation.

The entire complex including the tower is the St Charles Center...the office building was renovated and houses Lebanese Canadian Bank headquarters and other offices..The kuwait royal family and leb investors wouldnt have a hardtime coming up with the cash or financing..the annouced a 100mil renovation but only did half (the offices)...now they are waiting for the elections and stability signs..tourism just bounced back in the past 9 months

^^There are different strategies towards investment. I'm sure they could come up with the cash themselves if they wanted to, but they decided they'd rather raise the money over a period of time through proceeds collected from the rent and fees of the partially renovated facilities. This partial renovation was done back in the 90's, before much of the Beirut Central District (BCD) projects began. It was announced back then that the intention was to raise money through proceeds of the renovated facilities to eventually renovate the hotel.

What's holding up the renovation is a disagreement between the investors who own the complex. This goes back to the days before Hariri was assassinated. I'm not sure if the disagreement has been solved yet, but until it does, the hotel won't be renovated.

yes read the previous posts here..however your wrong about the renovation it occured in 2000..and i fail to see how the rent can fund the hotel renovation...That is enough to pay expenses like maintenance and taxes with a small profit...especially considering the time it takes to pay the loan off on the renovation..

^^The renovation was done in the late 90's. I remember from when I was down in Beirut back then.

If leasing office space did not make much money, then nobody would be in the business of leasing office space. Businesses that specialize in renting and leasing of office space actually make lots of money. In fact, the business of renting/leasing in general is quite profitable, everything from offices to warehouses to aircraft leasing.

And keep in mind that the St. Charles City Center does not just include the small office building that house the Lebanese Canadian Bank headquarters. It also includes Expo Beirut which hosts expos, conventions, and other large events. Such events are a very high source of revenue.

Courtesy of NG architecture

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6856/beirut1.jpg

God I fcking love that picture. Beirut is the best. <3

^^ yeah me too, I just wish i didn't have to put my thumb over the holiday in to really enjoy the picture!

^^ I think the Holiday Inn is actually fine, It adds a certain strange feel to the skyline which I like :D

yeah they just need to fix it!

^^ It seems fine destroyed but fixing it wouldn't be a bad idea

^^ It seems fine destroyed but fixing it wouldn't be a bad idea

I agree it looks cool, but it's not practical!

when i was in beirut at eid, people told me that they have started its restoration, when i passed by the back they had closed it up, and i saw some minimal activity at the base. can anyone in beirut try to confirm, or disconfirm.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2869/cimg1260m.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2869/cimg1260m.jpg
^^ That garbage chute has been there right?

^^ Where do you see one?

its a long grey chute going from the top floor to the bottom. Count three columns from the right. Its in the middle of the 3rd column of balconies. See it?

I did see that in summer (May-June) however I cant remember if it was there beforehand

** searched google and it seems that garbage chute was there for a while,

Jader where you referring to that garbage chute or was it something completely different you saw on site?

I think that has always been there. wasn't the site gutted or something after the war was over? When I went in it seemed everything was cleared!

The activity i saw was workers moving and clearing things. They looked like they where getting ready for something. This is of course from the back of the hotel.

Well.. Is the renovation ever going to happen? Is it still slated for one?

Also, any proper pics from when it was opened, and still intact.. I bet it looked awesome :)

Also, any proper pics from when it was opened, and still intact.. I bet it looked awesome :)

I believe it was scheduled to open one day before the civil war, I'm not sure but it wasn't really open.

^^You're thinking of the original Hilton. The Holiday Inn was open for a year before the war started.

The original Hilton, which was supposed to open right when the war started, was demolished after the war and the Grand Hyatt is being built in its place.

They need to seriously tear this down and build some Las Vegas styled resort here. Like this:

http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/images/palazzo%20night.jpg

Hmmm.... I dunno, I kind of don't want anything in lebanon that can be described as "Las Vegas styled" I usually associate that with everything thats tacky! Isn't gambling kind of out of style? maybe not in america, but by in large, I always think its such an 80's thing to do, like thats when I imagine it was at it its height.

God No!! T

Thats a seriously FUGLY building Charoog.. The lighting just makes it seem less ugly..

I know its Ugly.... though I kind of like having the Holiday Inn there... it shows History. At times I wish they could tear it down.

I guess I'm just really infatuated with Vegas, and am used to it [living in Ameirca], that it's not really liked in the Middle East. I've always pictured some Vegas Strip -esque buildings in Lebanon. I think somehow it can work.

^^ Vegas is preceived around the world as "tacky" when in the State's it's actually viewed as being very high-end/upscale/flashy/posh, etc.

Why though? Have any of you ever been there before? It's really nice. The lights, the action, the glamour [sometimes]. Hotels in the Middle East are kinda boring compared to Vegas. You don't necessarily need a casino, but the essence of Vegas hotels is amazing IMO.

Here are intoerior shots of Vegas hotels. Nothing really like it in the ME.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1236/1464526572_3c178226e8.jpg
http://images.destinology.co.uk/AccommImages/14354/image/-PalazzoLobbyFountain%20RESIZEmain.jpg
http://lastheplace.com/images/article-images/2007_Writers/1Jane/PlanetHollywood/Lobby_Panorama-Plane138270.jpg

And not to mention the hotel rooms.
http://zenandjuice.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/2008-07-16-las-vegas-trip-260-palazzo-room-39-700.jpg

http://duplicatewinnings.com/images/DPW/images/MonteCarloPokerRoomHotel.jpg

I think there's an ongoing trend in Beirut to go for vertical and not horizontal buildings probably to maximize profit from land value..
I can't recall any project proposed, UC, or lately completed that resembles Vegas elongated shaped buildings. The only ones were the Carlton Hotel and a couple of other on Raouche, which are all demolished..
Same thing I think will happen with the Holiday Inn!

I don't think the Holiday Inn will be demolished. When the time comes to make use of the property, I expect that it will be renovated.

Demolishing the Holiday Inn will be complicated because of the Phoenicia Hotel right next to it. The Phoenicia would need to be closed and emptied during any demolition of the Holiday Inn for safety reasons. It's possible also if the demolition doesn't go completely as planned that there could be some damage done to the Phoenicia.

The way to avoid these complications is to dismantle the Holiday Inn, basically take it apart piece by piece, but this is VERY time consuming and would take a number of years and also be very costly. It's like reverse construction.

It would be geener and more economical to refurbish it than demolish it! why don't they do that instead?

I would like it if they demolished just the right side of building, keeping the left side of the tower and the rotating restaurant. The buildings as it is now is too wide IMO.

But the building could be structurally unsafe. When I went in, there were many walls demolished right through to move artillery. Also there were stallagmits starting to form in some closed areas so obvious water leakage.

good to know!

Somewhere else in this thread they stated it was in fact structurally sound..and was even built to withstand a major earthquake

If the structure is salvagable than it would be very wasteful to demolish it! I hope they recycle concrete in Lebanon, otherwise all that waste would be lanfilled.

I don't think the Holiday Inn will be demolished. When the time comes to make use of the property, I expect that it will be renovated.

Demolishing the Holiday Inn will be complicated because of the Phoenicia Hotel right next to it. The Phoenicia would need to be closed and emptied during any demolition of the Holiday Inn for safety reasons. It's possible also if the demolition doesn't go completely as planned that there could be some damage done to the Phoenicia.

The way to avoid these complications is to dismantle the Holiday Inn, basically take it apart piece by piece, but this is VERY time consuming and would take a number of years and also be very costly. It's like reverse construction.


There wont be any large-scale demolitions (i.e. Hilton) anymore in Beirut for the reasons you mentioned. However, dismantling is highly possible and wont be as time consuiming as you think - just look at how quick the Carlton dismantling took.

courtesy of cyril
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/cccd.jpg

PATCH the Holiday inn geez!

No, either fix it up or leave it like that. No patching, its like being lied to. I mean, its destroyed, Don't piss on my shoes and tell me its raining.

No, either fix it up or leave it like that. No patching, its like being lied to. I mean, its destroyed, Don't piss on my shoes and tell me its raining.

Its an eyesore..thats not the image we want for our business/ hospitality center..They covered it all up for the arab summit before..

Actually our "war wounds" are a source of tourist spectatorship and spectacle. People are disapointed when they see no effects of war. So when people see this building, they are not only shocked and amazed. They suddenly appreaciate everything else around them. And the war and our history becomes real for them.

Personally, the issue of this building and all buildings in beirut affected by the war (this one especially) are a source of contention for me. I want to see new ones come up, but not before there is some sort of permanent visible memorial specifically for the civil war and all the citizens lost. And with each building renovated I find it harder for me to negotiate my feelings and anxiety of what being in a civil war, a self inflicted conflict means. All I am saying is.... build to remember, before you destroy to forget.

build to remember, before you destroy to forget.

What is memorable, moving phrase. I agree with the sentiments wholeheartedly.

But sadly, and in lieu of some revolution in thinking, given that no one agrees over what the civil war was about, getting any form of memorial, concrete or otherwise, might only happen after another war with the winner writing the history...

This is a civil war... unfortunately ... there are no winners. how societies have usually dealt with civil wars is... reconciled, had war trials, convict the leaders, or people involved with specific battles, set up a memorial and a day of commemorating and moved on.

We, on the other hand, stop a war, and put every militia boss in government, and call it a happy day.

I refuse to morn any politician! I need to morn the citizens that were lost, before I morn the leaders that killed them.
I really think Martyrs square needs to have another monument incorporated with the statue commemorating the civil war.

I thinks it ridiculous that our history books stop at independence.... when are we going to move on ... we can't ignore 30/40 years of history.

from al akhbar jan 16th 2010, long story short disputes between the different shareholders are blocking any serious attempts to renovate the building

يُعرف بمبنى فندق الهوليداي إن، إلا أن هذا الفندق الذي ارتبط اسمه بالحرب الأهلية في منطقة عين المريسة، هو جزء من مبنى كبير اسمه «سان شارل»، بدأت فكرة إنشائه في الستينيات، وانطلقت أعماله في السبعينيات، وبعد انتهاء الحرب، بقي الجزء الأكبر من المبنى مجبولاً بحكايات الحرب، والسبب: خلافات بين المساهمين!

رشا أبو زكي
أكبر استثمار كويتي في لبنان لا يزال في قبضة الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية، فمبنى السان شارل أو ما يعرف بمبنى «فندق هوليداي إن» في عين المريسة، الذي واجه حرائق وصواريخ وقذائف الميليشيات بفعل تصميمه الهندسي القادر على مواجهة هزة أرضية بقياس 9 درجات على مقياس ريختر، دخل في كوما الموت الاستثماري، نتيجة الخلافات المشتعلة بين المساهمين... وبدلاً من أن يصبح هذا المشروع منافساً شرساً للفنادق الضخمة الموجودة في محيطه، بقي ركاماً لا حياة فيه ولا نبض! ولمركز سان شارل قصة بدأت في الستينيات ولم تنته فصولها بعد...
ففي منتصف الستينيات، تأسست شركة «المركز المدني سان شارل» (وهي شركة مساهمة لبنانية)، بهدف شراء الأرض التي بني عليها مستشفى سان شارل التابع لراهبات ألمانيات في عين المريسة، بحسب وزير المال السابق ورئيس مجلس إدارة الشركة سابقاً إلياس سابا، وذلك بعدما تمكّن المحامي اسكندر سارة من إقناع الراهبات ببيع الأرض، ونقل المستشفى إلى منطقة في خارج بيروت، وهذا ما حصل، إذ انتقل المستشفى إلى منطقة الحازمية، واستطاعت الشركة الناشئة شراء الأرض البالغة 10 آلاف و300 متر، وتألف مجلس الإدارة من 10 أعضاء، بينهم سارة وسابا وصاحب شركة سيل العقارية أرنست عابديني، وهو سوري حاصل على الجنسية اللبنانية، وقد أصبح رئيساً لمجلس الإدارة. تأسست الشركة برأسمال 10 ملايين ليرة، موّلها عابديني ومصرفان لبنانيان، هما الأهلي ومصرف لبنان والشرق الأوسط (أفلسا ووضعت اليد عليهما بعد فترة). وبعد شراء الأرض، أعدّت شركة لبنانية وشركة موجنسكي الفرنسية الشهيرة، خرائط هندسية لإنشاء أكبر مجمّع سكني وتجاري في لبنان، على أن يضم المجمّع برجاً يتكوّن من 29 طبقة، وقربه مبنى مثلث الشكل، وسوق تجارية تمتد على مساحة العقار. إضافة إلى 40 ألف متر مربع من الكاراجات تحت الأرض. وكان من المفترض أن تقسّم وحدات البرج بين مكاتب وشقق سكنية، فيما المبنى المثلث مخصص للمكاتب...

دخول الكويتيين

إلا أن إكمال عملية البناء كان بحاجة إلى زيادة رأسمال الشركة من 10 ملايين ليرة إلى 35 مليون ليرة، وهنا اقترح سابا زيادة رأس المال 10 ملايين ليرة، واستدانة 20 مليون ليرة. ولتنفيذ الاقتراح، تعهد سابا بتأمين هذا المبلغ من الكويتيين، على أن تكون معهم أكثرية الأسهم، وعلى هذا الأساس رفع الشركاء رأسمال الشركة، وامتنعوا عن الاكتتاب إلى حين وصول المستثمر الكويتي المنتظر. واستطاع سابا إقناع وزير المال الكويتي جابر الأحمد بالدخول في المشروع، وقال الأخير إنه يريد المساهمة بأمواله وأموال ورثة أمير الكويت عبد الله سالم الصباح، وهكذا أصبح لابن الشيخ عبد الله، وهو الشيخ سعد الصباح (كان رئيس مجلس الوزراء وأصبح أمير الكويت في عام 2006) 53% من الأسهم.
بدأ بناء المشروع في تشرين الأول من عام 1970، وعيّن سابا وزيراً للمال، فرأى أنه لا يمكن الجمع ما بين العمل الاستثماري والعمل الوزاري، فترك مجلس الإدارة. وفي عام 1973، وبعدما انتهت ولايته الوزارية، عاد سابا إلى مجلس إدارة الشركة. وفي مطلع عام 1974 نشب إشكال ما بين عابديني (32% من الأسهم)، والشيخ سعد، بعدما رفض مجلس الإدارة إعطاءه موافقته في الحصول على هواء المبنى المثلث وتحويله إلى «ترّاس». عندها استقال من رئاسة المجلس ليخلفه سابا حتى عام 2003. اكتشف مجلس الإدارة في عام 1974، أن السكان لا يرغبون في السكن بالبرج لأسباب تعود إلى طبيعة المنطقة المجاورة للحانات الليلية، فَحُوِّل نصف البرج إلى مكاتب، والنصف الآخر إلى فندق. وبعد مفاوضات مع فندق هوليداي إن، وافق الأخير على إقامة فندق 5 نجوم في البرج، مؤلف من 520 غرفة ومن دون إيجار، وإنما عبر اقتطاع نسب مئوية من مدخول
الخلافات بدأت منذ فترة طويلة وتفجرن في العام 2002

الغرف والطعام والمشروبات وبقية الخدمات. واستطاع الفندق الوصول إلى نسبة اشغال 103% في سرعة قياسية، وأنشأت الإدارة مطعماً دواراً في الطبقة 27 الذي تحوّل إلى أهم مطعم في لبنان، فيما المبنى المثلث أجّر بالكامل إلى شركات عالمية. واستطاع الفندق وحده تحقيق 3 ملايين ليرة في سنة واحدة فقط، إلا أن الحرب بدأت في عام 1975، وتحوّل السان شارل إلى خط تماس بين القوى المتصارعة، ومن ثم سيطر الجيش السوري على البرج حتى عام 1991. بدأت شركة المركز المدني بعملية تنظيف المجمّع في نهاية عام 1991، فأخرجت أكثر من 100 شاحنة ذخائر، وأكثر من 30 هيكلاً عظمياً، وكُشف على الأساسات والأعمدة ورمّمت بكلفة مليوني دولار، وفق ما يقول سابا، ومن ثم جرى تأهيل السوق التجارية. إلا أنه بعد وفاة عابديني وتوريث الأسهم لأولاده، لم يوافق هؤلاء على إعادة ترميم البرج، على الرغم من أنه لا يزال متيناً، لكنهم أُقنعوا بإعادة تأهيل المبنى المثلث. وإثر ذلك، أُجّر كامل المبنى وأصبح ينتج سنوياً 1،5 مليون دولار.

زيادة رأس المال

وفي عام 2002، بدأ مجلس إدارة «شركة المركز المدني» التفكير باستكمال ترميم المجمع كله، وقد قدرت التكاليف آنذاك بين 70 مليون دولار و80 مليوناً، وفق ما قالت فادية ابنة الشيخ سعد العبد الله الصباح، إلا أن هذا الإجراء كان يتطلّب زيادة رأس المال، وجرت اتصالات مع شركات دولية للفنادق من أجل إعادة تشغيل الفندق باسم آخر. إلا أن ولدي عابديني لم يوافقا على زيادة رأس المال، وأرادا بيع حصّتهما، على أن يخمّن المشروع بـ 130 مليون دولار، إلا أن الجانب الكويتي لم يوافق، فكان الإشكال الثاني، وتوقّف التفكير بأي عملية ترميم للمبنى.
وفي عام 2003 استقال سابا من منصبه، وانتخبت الجمعية العمومية لمركز «المدني سان شارل» مجلساً جديداً لإدارته برئاسة الشيخة فادية سعد العبد الله الصباح، وعضوية الشيخ عبد الله علي العبد الله السالم الصباح نائباً للرئيس والمحامية سهام حاراتي والمهندس إيلي صحناوي والمحامية هدى طبارة... وفيما تشاع أخبار عن إعداد مشاريع لتطوير المبنى، فإن أوساط المساهمين تؤكّد أن الخلافات لا تزال قائمة، وبالتالي سيبقى مبنى الهوليداي إن شاهداً على الخراب إلى أجل غير مسمّى

There wont be any large-scale demolitions (i.e. Hilton) anymore in Beirut for the reasons you mentioned. However, dismantling is highly possible and wont be as time consuiming as you think - just look at how quick the Carlton dismantling took.

I thought the Carlton was demolished with wrecking balls?

^^ The wrecking balls were used somewhat, but this is still a good alternative to dynamite.

Well I did some research on the building for my thesis; but it is kinda difficult to find reliable information because neither the owners, represented by a law firm in Beirut, nor Solidere who wants to redevelop the land, are willing to comment on it. Basically the building was supposed to go down September last year. It didn't... obviously :D. Reason for this are -as usual- disagreements between the owners,
and indeed the structure. The building has been built to resist a 5.x earthquake, which makes demolition in its current state very difficult (as someone already pointed out, it is very close to the Phoenicia hotel), and it would take ages.
I have no clue what is going to happen next; other than the fact that the Canadian Bank which has its head quarters in the tiny building that is part of the entire complex is moving out since they are building their new head offices in downtown (at the end of Martyr Square; basically on the strip between Beirut Gates, the Egg, Saifi II and Martyr Square). There's some info on that project here too somewhere (can't find the link now).
But until that is finished I suppose the building won't go anywhere for at least 1 or 2 years.
I recently heard another rumour which is that the building would become, after all, a memorial... But I think that is just a rumour...

The pictures of the old Holiday Inn Hotel are chilling!

I remember I was 10 years old when my dad took me with him to meet a business partner of his staying there. The Hotel had just opened not too long. I never went beyond the lobby.

Mike

Faded glory - Beirut’s old Hotels

Sarah Lynch, April 14, 2010 - nowlebanon.com

From the top story of the old Holiday Inn, to the overgrown poolside of the Excelsior Hotel, emblems of war and destruction continue to dot the area around Beirut’s rapidly developing downtown. Remnants of a violent era, four yet-to-be renovated, beautiful-turned-battered buildings stand as reminders of Beirut’s violent past.

Holiday Inn
The Holiday Inn was built by a Kuwaiti-Lebanese company in the early 1970s. During the 1975-1990 civil war, it was used as a battle field in the War of the Hotels. As one of the most fiercely contested locations in all of Lebanon, the building changed hands between Christian and Muslim militias that engaged in floor-to-floors battles.

The hotel, which stands on the edge of downtown Beirut and is marked by bullet and mortar holes, has yet to be renovated. Guards are stationed at 24-hour lookout posts. The area surrounding the Holiday Inn is occupied by high-rises and luxury hotels, and looking north, one can see the St. Georges Hotel, outside of which former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in 2005.

The view from on top of the Holiday Inn reveals a developing and glowing cityscape. Remnants of Beirut’s violent history are haphazardly dispersed throughout the city, making for a compelling sunrise.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7509/holidayinn.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/holidayinn.jpg/)


Excelsior Hotel
One might remember the Excelsior Hotel, located in Ain Mreisseh, for the Caves des Roy nightclub, formerly one of Lebanon's most famous hotspots. The first-floor grounds are now covered in layers of dust and rubble.

The hotel is featured in several scenes from Georges Lautner’s 1967 film La Grande Sauterelle, starring Hardy Krueger and Mireille Darc. The film, a tale of love and money set in Beirut, includes a scene where Lebanese restaurant and nightclub owner Pepe Abed sits at the famous pool reading a newspaper.

The Excelsior’s main entrance is boarded and locked, but a back way in provides access to the hotel’s forgotten garden and pool area.
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/7106/excelsior.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/excelsior.jpg/)


St. Georges Hotel
The St. Georges Hotel is one of Beirut’s most famous. Built in 1932, the hotel was severely damaged during the civil war. Renovation began in 1996 following the withdrawal of Syrian soldiers from the building, but it was slowed a year later when construction company Solidere gained access to what was the property’s waterfront, making investors skeptical of the project’s value.

It is the site of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination on February 14, 2005. A car bomb exploded outside the building, killing Hariri and 21 others and inflicting $15 million of damage on the hotel’s roadside façade.

The ground floor of the hotel is currently operating as a Yacht Club and Marina, while construction is taking place above.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5960/stgeorges.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/stgeorges.jpg/)


Semiramis Furnished Apartments
While the Semiramis Furnished Apartment building was never a hotel, it remains as one in the collective memory of locals. Located directly next to the Excelsior, the building is filled with dusty shoes, cardboard boxes and scraps of old newspapers from the early 1990s. Mirrors and bathrooms tiles throughout are shattered and scarred by bullet holes.

When asked about the building, many locals are unsure what exactly it is. One of the building guards said it was the old Four Seasons. But the Four Seasons denies that a hotel building aside from their current one in Beirut ever existed. Others said it was once a hotel, but did not know the name.

In the collective memory of people, it is just another structure that’s been around for ages. It is very much a part of the city’s gone, but certainly not forgotten, glory days.
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/7957/semiramis.jpg (http://img532.imageshack.us/i/semiramis.jpg/)


http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=160697

omg, so i'll put my comment to that thread here just not to update that thread too.. but, wow, this is stupid the holiday inn is truly one of the biggest buildings and the fact that people are stopping it from being, at least renovated is crazy in itself. I find it completely selfish from the owners' side. You know, sometimes i feel there is so little people that like to look at the big picture of things (ex. the way beirut would look if the holiday inn was renovated). I just graduated and am registered as a civil engineer at temple university and my dream plan is to build the tower in my head in beirut's main district.
^^ might sound dreamy but hopefully it'll happen with time, step by step.

That view from the top is unbelievable...I feel that it should be left as is, with the revolving restaurant at the top renovated, and a museum commemorating beirut's history and the civil war on one of the top floors to take advantage of the view

That view from the top is unbelievable...I feel that it should be left as is, with the revolving restaurant at the top renovated, and a museum commemorating beirut's history and the civil war on one of the top floors to take advantage of the view

First off welcome to the forum:)
Secondly.. do we know if this structure can withstand people anymore? Like loads of people and extra weight from furnishings?

I would like to see it as a giant museum to be honest, because it has the eerie feel to it...
Might be corny, but maybe a line written in arabic on the side of the building (that is plain gray) that says something pertaining to the war? Or a certain quote about never returning to that state of war.. or something.. like for dramatic effect and sentimental value?

While I do agree a war museum in the Holiday in is particularly a nice Idea since aesthetically its an imposing structure. I actually quite like where the civil war museum is being developed right now. The Barakat building is pretty symbolic both before the war and during.

The Holiday in would have made a great choice, but those gashes on the sides of the buildings that make it stand out would have to be sealed just based on the height of it.

At the end of the day, I love that its a reminder, but if we have the choice between renovating it and destroying it completely, I would rather destroy it completely and build from scratch.

I am surprised how I am saying this because I am the first to demand for the continuation of memorials. Maybe this one is just too visceral.

First off welcome to the forum:)
Secondly.. do we know if this structure can withstand people anymore? Like loads of people and extra weight from furnishings?

I would like to see it as a giant museum to be honest, because it has the eerie feel to it...
Might be corny, but maybe a line written in arabic on the side of the building (that is plain gray) that says something pertaining to the war? Or a certain quote about never returning to that state of war.. or something.. like for dramatic effect and sentimental value?

Thanks :) I've been a long time follower, so I finally decided to join. Beautiful work here guys.

أعلن رئيس مجلس إدارة شركة "المركز المدني سان شارل" فهد العجمي أن التوجه العام لدى إدارة الشركة مالكة مبنى فندق "هوليداي إن" هو تعمير الفندق بأفضل صورة تحقق الهدف الذي تأسست من أجله, مشيراً إلي أنه لا إتجاه لبيع المشروع ولا عروض لشرائه.
ولفت العجمي إلى أن الإدارة الحالية تمكّنت من تجاوز معظم الملفات المتراكمة المالية والإدارية والقانونية، وتخليص الشركة من أعبائها وهي تتهيأ للمرحلة المقبلة, مشيراً إلي أن من ضمن ما تحقق إعادة جدولة الديون وتشغيل الشركة واستفادتها من الأصول المدرّة حتى تتعافي مالياً.
وأشار إلى أن مجلس الإدارة أتاح المجال أمام المساهمين ليتمكّنوا من مساندة شركتهم وخروجها من صعوبات مالية متبقية تعود إلى ديون مدوّرة، فضلاً عن مخصصات ملحة لالتزامات متنوعة.

Translation,,,,thanx to Google :)

Declared Chairman of the Board of Directors "Civic Centre Saint Charles," Fahad Al-Ajmi that the general attitude of the management company owner of the building of hotel "Holiday Inn" is a reconstruction of the hotel best achieve the goal established for it, noting that the trend for the sale of the project and offers to buy it.
He Ajmi that the current Administration has managed to overcome most of the files accumulated financial, administrative, legal, and rid the company of the burden as they get ready for the next phase, indicating that among the achievements of debt rescheduling and operation of the company and the utilization of generating assets to recover financially.
He pointed out that the Governing Council provided a way for shareholders to be able to support their company and out of financial difficulties due to residual debt round, as well as allocations urgent various obligations.

Any updates?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4931902624_911a714929_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24989774@N07/4931902624/)

I think the govt should fine properties like this..lets hope they get there act togeather..I still say patch the holes at least for now...buy some cinder block and stack them

A rare view...


October 27
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/6311801706_781b484c59_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/krustacean/6311801706/)
Holiday Inn Beirut 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/krustacean/6311801706/) by krustacean (http://www.flickr.com/people/krustacean/), on Flickr

any news about hotel?
btw who is the owner?