The debate over the Safdie Project - 20,000 housing units slated to be built in the hills of southwestern Jerusalem - continues, and will be taken to the National Planning Committee next month.
As reported here yesterday, the Knesset Interior Committee has asked the Jerusalem Municipality to freeze the project for two years. Rivka Shraga, spokesperson for the Jerusalem Development Company that is overseeing the project, told Arutz-7, however, that it does not appear that this request will be answered. "The next step," she said, "will be the National Planning Committee of the Interior Ministry in a month or six weeks from now."
Many environmentalist groups object to what is known as the Safdie Project, saying it will destroy an important green area on the outskirts of the capital. It is currently slated for the hills in southwestern Jerusalem, south of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem and Mt. Orah. Ms. Shraga said that the project will encompass 26,000 square meters (6.4 acres), "of which a very large amount - some 80% - will be parks, interspersed with the building compounds."
MK Yigal Yasinov (Shinui) said, "The city has to expand and develop - but at the same time we must not destroy the green belt around the city, because we received it as an inheritance and we must preserve it for the coming generations. We must be wary of hasty measures."
Environmentalist groups have come up with a list of close to 150 areas within the built-up areas of Jerusalem in which, they claim, over 100,000 apartments could be built or are in the process of being built. They further claim that only 40,000-60,000 new apartments are needed in Jerusalem over the coming two decades.
Ms. Shraga said in response that even the Greens know that their list is not realistic: "That list cannot provide even 15,000 apartments over the next 20 years. They themselves object to construction in some of those areas, such as Ramat Eshkol and Pisgat Ze'ev." Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky says that 100,000 new units are needed to meet Jerusalem's needs over the coming two decades.
The Greens also claim that heavy population of the western part of the city will further weaken the city center, encourage private vehicle use, distance the city center from the Old City, and 'waste' the infrastructures in other neighborhoods, such as schools.
As reported here yesterday, the Knesset Interior Committee has asked the Jerusalem Municipality to freeze the project for two years. Rivka Shraga, spokesperson for the Jerusalem Development Company that is overseeing the project, told Arutz-7, however, that it does not appear that this request will be answered. "The next step," she said, "will be the National Planning Committee of the Interior Ministry in a month or six weeks from now."
Many environmentalist groups object to what is known as the Safdie Project, saying it will destroy an important green area on the outskirts of the capital. It is currently slated for the hills in southwestern Jerusalem, south of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem and Mt. Orah. Ms. Shraga said that the project will encompass 26,000 square meters (6.4 acres), "of which a very large amount - some 80% - will be parks, interspersed with the building compounds."
MK Yigal Yasinov (Shinui) said, "The city has to expand and develop - but at the same time we must not destroy the green belt around the city, because we received it as an inheritance and we must preserve it for the coming generations. We must be wary of hasty measures."
Environmentalist groups have come up with a list of close to 150 areas within the built-up areas of Jerusalem in which, they claim, over 100,000 apartments could be built or are in the process of being built. They further claim that only 40,000-60,000 new apartments are needed in Jerusalem over the coming two decades.
Ms. Shraga said in response that even the Greens know that their list is not realistic: "That list cannot provide even 15,000 apartments over the next 20 years. They themselves object to construction in some of those areas, such as Ramat Eshkol and Pisgat Ze'ev." Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky says that 100,000 new units are needed to meet Jerusalem's needs over the coming two decades.
The Greens also claim that heavy population of the western part of the city will further weaken the city center, encourage private vehicle use, distance the city center from the Old City, and 'waste' the infrastructures in other neighborhoods, such as schools.