#0202_A_View_From_West_Jerusalem

News Digest: Is Construction on Ma'agalei Yavneh Street in Katamonim Gentrification or Urban Renewal? [1]

"Katamon: One of the Largest Jerusalem Evacuation and Construction Projects Begins

[…] The first steps to real change in the Katamon neighborhoods: Recently, details were finalized for one of Jerusalem's largest and most complicated evacuation and construction projects. Around 850 new housing units will be added to a 40 dunam plot of land between the German Colony, Baqa, Mekor Haim, and Katamon neighborhoods.

Over the last few years, the topic of urban renewal has become ever-more important in the capital, but you don't see a project this extensive every day; no less than 380 households have come together to implement the plan, which, in the last few days, finally took off. The work has begun on building the new neighborhood, as part of this project. […]

The process began four years ago when representative residents appointed experienced and professional advisors to work on the project. The representative office acted meticulously, step-by-step, and invested hundreds of hours into meetings, public proceedings, social surveys, and […] more. After all their hard work, the construction proposal documents were compiled. In April 2016, the representatives invited ten of the largest real estate entrepreneurs in Israel to tour the area with contractors. […] After reviewing all the entrepreneurs' proposals, the Ashdar company was chosen to head the project. After long negotiations came to an end last month, the deal was finalized.

[…] The project is an evacuation-construction project to develop a new neighborhood in the heart of the city and to build an additional 850 housing units in the city. Hundreds of new families will be able to reside in Jerusalem upon the project's completion, and tenants in existing apartments will enjoy significantly improved quality of life and a significant property value increase."

– Kol Ha'Ir

[Selected comments:]
-"It won't happen soon. Not a single evacuation-construction plan actually happens in Jerusalem."
-"Wonderful? But what about the evacuation-construction in Gilo?"

**
"Ashdar's War of Attrition on the Residents of Ma'agalei Yavneh Has Begun!

A Public Letter by Residents to the Yediot Yerushalayim Newspaper

Recently, residents of the quiet Ma'agalei Yavneh street received notice that negotiations have come to an end between 'Resident Representatives' and the Ashdar company, which is in support of the Jerusalem Municipality's plan to destroy all of the homes on the street and build over 1250 housing units. These very same 'Resident Representatives' chose their own self-interests over the residents' interests.

What's so bad about this agreement?

First of all, the company plans to ruin the skyline in the very heart of Jerusalem, while causing terrible cramped-ness, with skyscraper after skyscraper, or essentially dozens of 'Holy Lands' right next to each other.

The contract clearly benefits the company while destroying the residents' lives. So what can we do? […]

The evacuation-construction of the entire street can only be accepted on the condition that destruction of the street should be implemented within a reasonable time frame of 3-4 years while landlords receive full rent, without having to endure legal battles."

– Flyer distributed to residents of Ma'agalei Yavneh St.

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0202 Editor's Notes:
[1] Katamonim in the early 1950's was home to housing projects. While today
it is still considered a rough neighborhood in West Jerusalem, Katamonim's affordability and its adjacency to well-developed neighborhoods, such as Old Katamon, has made it more attractive to young couples and singles.

#Katamonim #Construction #Gentrification #Urban_Renewal

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