7 New Views in Jerusalem

What’s considered new in Jerusalem, Israel, is a constant surprise.

Every week something new seems to grab headlines and attention.

Suspension bridge over Hinnom Valley

The suspension bridge over the Hinnom Valley (shared here in May) was officially opened and caused a bit of social media discussion.

What a view from the bridge!

But is it a bridge over the valley to nowhere on Mount Zion?

A photo taken during the development of the new bridge (twice mentioned here) appears that more development of the area might be called for.

Who remembers this photo and view from October 2021?

And this photograph was taken in December 2019 BC – Before Corona.

Well, here is the same spot near the end of Jaffa Road this past week!

Oh, how the view has changed!

All around Jerusalem, one day there is a store. The next day it’s gone.

The white sign over the door of the old Shaare Zedek is for Social Space.

The same sign as over the President Hotel entrance. Making use of old Jerusalem landmark buildings as the new ones pop up around them.

On Jaffa Road outside of the building workers were busy removing red Xs, from the new stones made so they look old.

Did you notice the new buildings built across the street?

The Jerusalem Gateway Project is at street level and visible from Jaffa Road.

Note on the left how the old cemetery remains as the towers rise above,

and well above the Jerusalem streets to change the view.

At first, this view of the Machane Yehuda Market on a summer weekday appeared the same as before strolling in off of Jaffa Road.

But now covered with a new roof, it was more pleasant than outside in the sun and filled with people, tour groups and shoppers, and summer camps.

People filled some of the passageways lined with new shops.

Fascinating to see cucumbers and corn packaged in plastic.

Even some of the baked goods were wrapped in plastic and not open as in the past. Good news for some, and outrageous for others.

The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens has a new attraction for summer 2023.

Colorful inflated “monsters” are meant to provide families with an outing to view the new kid-friendly monster balloons around the gardens.

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But I am waiting to view the details of the Japanese pagoda opening.

You can see it from the street, near the entrance of the Botanical Gardens next to the cherry trees and the Japanese flag.

The flag of Zambia was on view near Beit Hanasi, the President’s Residence, to welcome Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema to Jerusalem on an official state visit. The African leader had a busy schedule planned.

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I assume HH missed the popup flea market in the community park nearby.

This past week was Tu B’Av.

The time after the sad day of Tisha B’Av is filled with weddings.

But at all Jewish weddings, a glass is broken to remember the Jerusalem of Tisha B’Av and the destruction and promise of rebuilding as a new couple begins building their home.

As we left the wedding, I stopped to admire the view of the full moon.

Sturgeon moon over Yemin Moshe in Jerusalem Israel

Who remembers the same Sturgeon Moon over Yemin Moshe last year?

So it’s summer in Jerusalem, and signs are up for the Thursday night concerts back again in Safra Square with live musical entertainment.

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Saw this sign too late, but there are more Feel events on August 9 and 16.

And signs for even more events, to end off the summer before school starts, the Jerusalem Israel Festival, the International Puppet Festival at the Train Theater, The Tower of David Circus, and much more.

Solomon's Quarries for a piano performance

Remember the amazing views in Zedekiah Cave?

It’s to have reopened with a special video of King Solomon’s Quarries.

Enough views of above and below the Jerusalem streets for now.

Time to go and see what else is happening on the real Jerusalem streets, and to share next time what the mainstream media does not view as news.

Jerusalem Looking Up and Down

There are days Jerusalem feels like one big construction site. Taking advantage of the pleasant weather, I walked around to see what’s new on the Jerusalem streets and to share with you.

The lights are on again at the Israel Museum as night events are returning.

The corner where King George Street becomes Keren Hayesod Street near Paris Fountain is so dangerous for pedestrians, we now have a crossing guard. The sidewalk is so ripped up, sometimes two men are on duty.

The street adjacent to the new National Library is finally without any visible construction equipment.

Walk past the library you see the new government offices rising to the sky.

Walk around them and look across the Begin Highway to the new hi-rise apartments of Kiryat Moshe. A row of these is planned to replace the old smaller dwellings. The row of three hotels near the city entrance which used to be considered tall is dwarfed in comparison.

And then there is the Jerusalem Gateway project!

When the gate was open, I entered hoping to find a shortcut. I had a meeting near the main bus station, an area of Jerusalem that has continually changed over the past three years.

As always, my shortcuts end up taking longer. However what a sight this was, digging down and down.

This was a photo taken in 2012 of the Jerusalem Gateway project.

These photos are of the same part of Jaffa Road as it is now.

And a closer look at the construction rising well above ground level.

Nearby is the old Shaare Zedek Hospital on Jaffa Road that has had several tenants since the last patient left its stone walls. The 5th Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art is set to open here on November 11th.

The area behind it and the blue fence is to be a major building project.

Construction cranes and wires obstruct the view of the Chord Bridge.

Looking down its seems that it will be a long time before this is finished.

But all around Jerusalem, the development projects start by digging down.

Then look up and there’s more being lifted in and out of building sites.

Our local builder buddies ask for their photos often when I walk by.

Who remembers when this hotel was the only tall building in Jerusalem?

The Hilton Hotel, which became the Crowne Plaza, is now the Vert Hotel.

But, soon it will have competition for the tallest hotel and King George Street will have a new look.

Seeing the second group of foreign tourists greeted in the Vert lobby was exciting. Hopefully, international tourism will begin again. Individual visitors, not just groups, have a possibility to come into Israel as of November 1, 2021. But, there is a long list of legal requirements to enter.

This is the view of Cinema City and the Supreme Court from the Vert.

Another view over the new residential buildings and hotel.

And my favorite, the view of Nachalot, on a clear evening, with the mountains in Jordan visible on the other side of the Dead Sea.

Attending an event in the Vert Presidential Suite, I took a little tour for you

and checked out the loo in the impressive Presidential Suite.

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Oh, what a view at night!

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No matter which direction, day or night, the Jerusalem streets are impressive to walk or stroll or to run.

Here’s hoping the 11th Jerusalem Marathon is again an international one.

And next? Check out the options from 131 Open Houses later this month.

Jerusalem Gateway Project Closes Shazar Street

Jerusalem Gateway Project Closes Shazar Street

Oh, Jerusalem, Israel.

Does anyone remember chugging up the Judean mountains on old winding Route #1,

slowly, painfully riding in an old bus or open lorry to sleepy Jerusalem of old?

Today new buildings are going up, and all with elevators.

Jerusalem Israel Agrippas Street new building

These old shops on Agrippas Street are the site of new renovation in the center of town.

Jerusalem street near Yaffa Road and Machane Yehuda Market

In Jerusalem, street closings for construction occur often and without notice on these small roads.

But for the new Jerusalem Gateway project construction, ads were placed weeks in advance in both the Hebrew and English media for this important street closing on July 14.

Jerusalem Israel route one at night before Shazar closed to private vehicles

The Route #1 entrance to Jerusalem by the bridge on Sderot Shazar will be closed to private vehicles until the year 2022.

So of course, I had to take one last photo at night.

Construction for Jerusalem Gateway near Prime Minister's Office

Building up and up in Jerusalem has become a recurring theme.

Jerusalem Gateway construction

Building up at the Jerusalem Gateway project for the new government offices is seen here.

Building apartments in Kiryat Moshe Jerusalem Gateway project

This Kiryat Moshe building site has been cleared and new housing towers are set to go up.

Jerusalem Israel String Bridge

Down Herzl Boulevard the light rail trains run regularly over the Chord or String Bridge.

I decided to go to the bridge two hours after the road closed on the 14th to see what was happening.

Sderot Shazar closed for Jerusalem Gateway Business Center

This was the view from the pedestrian part of the span walkway.

See the yellow ambulance near the center of the photograph?

It was finally able to maneuver around the traffic, equipment, and workers.

Sderot Shazar Jerusalem Israel closed until 2022 for new road

Private vehicles will not be allowed to drive straight.

They must turn right onto Herzl Boulevard or make a left turn on to Yirmiyahu Street before the bridge.

Jerusalem Gateway traffic changed men painted arrows on road

Workers were busy painting new arrows for the new traffic patterns.

Street change for Jerusalem Gateway Business center

Traffic lights were out and will be changed as well.

There were crews in multiple locations directing confused drivers and pedestrians.

Street first day of closing for Jerusalem Gateway

Sderot Shazar by Binyanei HaUma, the Jerusalem International Conference Center, was indeed cleared of cars. In the past, this was one of the most congested areas near the bus stops.

Construction for Jerusalem Gateway Shazar closed to private cars

Now only buses and a few taxis will be allowed to drive here.

Jerusalem Israel Navon Train station

The new Navon Station for the fast train has access also from Jaffa Street.

But folks with luggage who want to be dropped off by private car?

I did not see a way to do it near the entrance.

Well, the plan was to encourage public transportation.

Navon is across from the main bus station and also a Jerusalem light-rail stop.

Jerusalem Israel construction site for Gateway Business Center

The Jerusalem Gateway project is huge. This bit of construction can be seen through one of the fences.

Construction for Jerusalem Gateway

The Jerusalem Gateway closing of Sderot Shazar is for three years.

The construction of the government and business sectors will continue longer, meanwhile, Jerusalem’s skyline and traffic patterns are changing daily.

Drivers are advised to take Route #443 or the HaArazim Tunnel road of Route #1 in and out of Jerusalem until the year 2022.

Good timing, at least we have Waze, Moovit, and WhatsApp – 054-884323, now to help us get around town.

Who could have imagined any of this not so long ago slowly winding up the old Route #1 to Jerusalem?