A historic building on Harav Kook Street in downtown Jerusalem was demolished, even though it has been on the city's preservation list since 1968. The demolishing is a severe blow to the city's unique urban fabric. The building, built in the 1920s served as the Herzberg Orphanage and later as the residence of the Lemel School after it was moved from the Old City, and finally as the Ankori School for matriculation studies.
The building is close to the Rav Kook Center, Beit Ticho, and Hadassah College, all of which are historic buildings along Harav Kook Street and Hanevi'im Street in the historic downtown area.
The building was sold to a private developer by the Jerusalem municipality. The project for the lot called for a residential building with at least eight floors.
The Council for the Preservation of Historic Sites said in response, "We're shocked by the decision to demolish this building, and we're astonished that a building that had been on the preservation list for 40 years suddenly had its Urban Building Plan changed without our knowledge or the knowledge of the public."
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Treasury allocates funds to train Israeli construction workers
The Ministry of Finance has agreed to allocate NIS 30 million to the Association of Contractors and Builders in Israel(ACBI) and the National Union of Building Workers to train Israeli construction workers and hold training seminars and courses. The government also allocated an additional NIS 10 million.
The allocations came after a long battle waged by the ACBI and the National Union of Building Workers against the Ministry of Finance, which reached the High Court of Justice at one point. The ACBI petitioned the court against the Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor who sought to abolish the vacation fund for construction workers and transfer its accumulated proceeds to the employees' pension and insurance fund.
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The allocations came after a long battle waged by the ACBI and the National Union of Building Workers against the Ministry of Finance, which reached the High Court of Justice at one point. The ACBI petitioned the court against the Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor who sought to abolish the vacation fund for construction workers and transfer its accumulated proceeds to the employees' pension and insurance fund.
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Azrieli - Africa-Israel malls sale talks collapse
The sides are far apart on several fronts, but talks may resume in the future.
The parties disagree on a number of tax issues and other points relating to the structure of the deal. The negotiations have been called off, but may resume later.
Sources inform ''Globes'' that Azrieli Group was due to purchase Africa-Israel's stake in the Ramat Aviv Mall at a value of NIS 1.9 billion, reflecting a return on investment of 5.5%. This would be a record price of a mall, far above the assessment made for it. The price tag for the Savionim Mall was NIS 200 million.
"Globes" was the first to report about the talks between Africa-Israel and Azrieli Group over the sale of the malls. On July 10, Africa-Israel confirmed the report in a notice to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). It said that it had reached an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Azrieli Group, and that it expected to obtain a total of NIS 1.8 billion for its holdings in the malls that were part of the deal.
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The parties disagree on a number of tax issues and other points relating to the structure of the deal. The negotiations have been called off, but may resume later.
Sources inform ''Globes'' that Azrieli Group was due to purchase Africa-Israel's stake in the Ramat Aviv Mall at a value of NIS 1.9 billion, reflecting a return on investment of 5.5%. This would be a record price of a mall, far above the assessment made for it. The price tag for the Savionim Mall was NIS 200 million.
"Globes" was the first to report about the talks between Africa-Israel and Azrieli Group over the sale of the malls. On July 10, Africa-Israel confirmed the report in a notice to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). It said that it had reached an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Azrieli Group, and that it expected to obtain a total of NIS 1.8 billion for its holdings in the malls that were part of the deal.
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Olympia to build in Kiev
Petah Tikva-based Olympia Real Estate Group said Wednesday its European branch, Olympia Euro, has been awarded the contract for construction of a huge building project in the Ukrainian city of Kiev.
The project will include 2,000 residential units, a 180,000 square-meter commercial center and a 700,000 square-meter hotel. Olympia estimated construction costs will be in the range of NIS 3.4 billion, while the project is expected to generate NIS 8b. in sales for the company.
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The project will include 2,000 residential units, a 180,000 square-meter commercial center and a 700,000 square-meter hotel. Olympia estimated construction costs will be in the range of NIS 3.4 billion, while the project is expected to generate NIS 8b. in sales for the company.
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Legal Ground: Little country, big on property
In tiny Israel, everything seems to be writ large. We have one of the highest numbers of symphony orchestras per capita, the greatest number of hi-tech start-ups in absolute terms and an effervescent property market.
HEFTSIBA PURCHASERS ignored the protection given to them by law, succumbing to the salesman's lures by diving into the pool without checking the water.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
In Israel's 21,000 square kilometers, between 100,000 and 120,000 homes change hands yearly. Most of the apartments that are bought are second-hand sales and about one-third are in newly constructed buildings.
Israeli building companies invest approximately NIS 36 billion in construction, two-thirds of which is in the residential market. In fact, the construction industry contributes over 12% of the gross national product and employs several hundred thousand workers. To grasp how big an industry it is (in Israeli terms) one needs merely to look at the number of professional and semi-professionals directly involved: between 5,000 and 8,000 real estate agents; approximately 8,000 architects and about 9,000 registered building contractors. (The subject of registered contractors and why it is important to work only with contractors registered with the Registrar of Building Contractors will be the dealt with in a future column.)
It is not really surprising that the residential property market is so active. Quite apart from the large influx of foreign buyers, steadily growing from year to year, Israelis themselves are very active in the market. For Israelis love to be home owners; 72% own their homes, one of the highest homeowner rates in the world. Just take a look at other major countries to make a comparison: the home ownership rate in the US is 68%, in Britain 69% and in France 54%.
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HEFTSIBA PURCHASERS ignored the protection given to them by law, succumbing to the salesman's lures by diving into the pool without checking the water.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
In Israel's 21,000 square kilometers, between 100,000 and 120,000 homes change hands yearly. Most of the apartments that are bought are second-hand sales and about one-third are in newly constructed buildings.
Israeli building companies invest approximately NIS 36 billion in construction, two-thirds of which is in the residential market. In fact, the construction industry contributes over 12% of the gross national product and employs several hundred thousand workers. To grasp how big an industry it is (in Israeli terms) one needs merely to look at the number of professional and semi-professionals directly involved: between 5,000 and 8,000 real estate agents; approximately 8,000 architects and about 9,000 registered building contractors. (The subject of registered contractors and why it is important to work only with contractors registered with the Registrar of Building Contractors will be the dealt with in a future column.)
It is not really surprising that the residential property market is so active. Quite apart from the large influx of foreign buyers, steadily growing from year to year, Israelis themselves are very active in the market. For Israelis love to be home owners; 72% own their homes, one of the highest homeowner rates in the world. Just take a look at other major countries to make a comparison: the home ownership rate in the US is 68%, in Britain 69% and in France 54%.
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Trouble in the Jewish Quarter
The Old City's rebuilt Jewish Quarter stands as one of Zionism's proudest accomplishments - a showpiece of history and spirituality that attracts millions of Israelis and foreign visitors annually to the Western Wall and the neighborhood's myriad tourist attractions.
The Hurva Synagogue refurbishment will restore it to its former glory - at too high a cost, say locals.
Photo: Israel Marc Sellem [file]
But the 600 families living in the picturesque quarter have a different perspective on life there. Many are fed up with the arbitrary quasi-bylaws imposed upon them by the Jewish Quarter Development Company (JQDC) - the government corporation established after the Six Day War to restore the then-ruined, historic neighborhood.
In particular, residents are irate about the inadequate parking arrangements imposed upon them by the JQDC. Two outdoor parking lots serve the area - one of 170 spaces reserved for residents and a 70-car visitors lot. Residents pay a nominal NIS 150 annual parking fee.
"The two lots were supposed to be for the residents only but from their great chutzpah the Hevra [JQDC] operates one for visitors to make money," charges Shmuel Yitzhaki, a member of the residents committee who has been living in the Jewish Quarter since 1979.
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The Hurva Synagogue refurbishment will restore it to its former glory - at too high a cost, say locals.
Photo: Israel Marc Sellem [file]
But the 600 families living in the picturesque quarter have a different perspective on life there. Many are fed up with the arbitrary quasi-bylaws imposed upon them by the Jewish Quarter Development Company (JQDC) - the government corporation established after the Six Day War to restore the then-ruined, historic neighborhood.
In particular, residents are irate about the inadequate parking arrangements imposed upon them by the JQDC. Two outdoor parking lots serve the area - one of 170 spaces reserved for residents and a 70-car visitors lot. Residents pay a nominal NIS 150 annual parking fee.
"The two lots were supposed to be for the residents only but from their great chutzpah the Hevra [JQDC] operates one for visitors to make money," charges Shmuel Yitzhaki, a member of the residents committee who has been living in the Jewish Quarter since 1979.
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Ra'anana will continue to expand
Ra'anana has presented its long-awaited "Vision for the year 2020," which plans to create an extra 4,000 apartments in the north and west of the city, reports local.co.il. But critics have been quick to attack the plan, which took two years to put together, cost NIS 176,000 and involved some 1,600 people.
According to the report, mayor Nahum Hofree presented the "vision" after it received council approval, saying the plan's main consideration was the pressing need for more housing in the city. The mayor said that 600 residential apartments would begin being built in 2009 on land currently occupied by Kfar Batya in the west of the city, and that the orchard recently planted on this land by the leaseholders would not stop the building project from going ahead. In addition, a further 3,500 residential units will be built in the north of the city, starting in the year 2010. As well as promising to find "housing solutions" for residents, the "vision" promises to upgrade road infrastructure and preserve a "clean and healthy" environment in the city.
Hofree said some 1,600 people, including hundreds of residents, had been involved in preparing the "vision" - the greatest number of people ever involved in any municipal plan in Israel. Most of the NIS 176,000 it cost went on the salaries of advisers. Hofree said the "vision" would act as "a compass that will lead us to the years ahead," adding that his aim was to preserve Ra'anana's character as a town and not change it to a city full of residential apartment towers.
Opposition councilors said the preparation of the plan had "lost all proportion." They said it had cost too much, had taken too long to prepare, involved too many people, and the end result was shallow and smacked of electioneering. Opposition councilor Leah Halperin said that previous mayor Ze'ev Bielski could have come up with the same plan "in half a day over dinner."
According to the report, mayor Nahum Hofree presented the "vision" after it received council approval, saying the plan's main consideration was the pressing need for more housing in the city. The mayor said that 600 residential apartments would begin being built in 2009 on land currently occupied by Kfar Batya in the west of the city, and that the orchard recently planted on this land by the leaseholders would not stop the building project from going ahead. In addition, a further 3,500 residential units will be built in the north of the city, starting in the year 2010. As well as promising to find "housing solutions" for residents, the "vision" promises to upgrade road infrastructure and preserve a "clean and healthy" environment in the city.
Hofree said some 1,600 people, including hundreds of residents, had been involved in preparing the "vision" - the greatest number of people ever involved in any municipal plan in Israel. Most of the NIS 176,000 it cost went on the salaries of advisers. Hofree said the "vision" would act as "a compass that will lead us to the years ahead," adding that his aim was to preserve Ra'anana's character as a town and not change it to a city full of residential apartment towers.
Opposition councilors said the preparation of the plan had "lost all proportion." They said it had cost too much, had taken too long to prepare, involved too many people, and the end result was shallow and smacked of electioneering. Opposition councilor Leah Halperin said that previous mayor Ze'ev Bielski could have come up with the same plan "in half a day over dinner."
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