Jerusalem Building Up and Up

Jerusalem Building Up and Up

Jerusalem has a serious lack of affordable housing. There is no lack of luxury units in fancy neighborhoods with overseas owners that are empty most of the year.

Once the 20,000 housing unit Safdie Plan was shot down in 2007 by environmental protests, prices were bound to go up and up.

I am not against green spaces.

Nature Center in Jerusalem Israel

It was great to see children at activities over the holidays in the Nature Center.

If you remember The Nature Center  was set to be sold to developers.

Take a walk around a few old Jerusalem streets.

Building in Jerusalem on Jaffa Road

When walking on Jaffa Road, this site was under construction,

Jaffa Road new building Jerusalem Israel

and now the new building impressively rises above the street.

Jerusalem WeWork building site Israel

A few weeks ago We Work was a huge construction site.

How will they open in October as announced?

Lights on Jerusalem Israel WeWork building

I saw that one small section of the WeWork building was lit up at night.

So it must be opening in stages – sounds like good planning.

Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem Israel

The Museum of Tolerance building has been proceeding quietly.

Building on King George Street which was torn down to build hotel

This old abandoned eyesore is gone, and instead a new hotel complex under construction.

Jerusalem Israel new buildings on Rav Kook Street near Ticho House

These buildings now dwarf the idyllic garden of Ticho House.

New buildings on Harav Kook Street

Here is a view of these new buildings towering over HaRav Kook Street.

Talpiot building being renovated Jerusalem construction

Other old buildings are getting face-lifts and additional floors added on top.

Jerusalem Israel building being renovated Tama 38

Developers under TAMA 38 are hoping to get residents to add space, elevators and new porches or secure rooms.

Then the builders sell the new penthouse(s) added on top for top dollar to finance the projects.

Jerusalem Israel sign for building renovation

Signs are posted on many streets, as obtaining work permits drags on.

Building under construction near Israeli President House

I recently spotted construction behind buildings,

New construction in Jerusalem, Israel

or on top of views. Construction can be seen in various stages and locations.

I could show so many more, but enough already.

Projected building for Jerusalem Israel

A few signs were posted for a community meeting concerning a building project at Dov Kimhe and Tchernichofsky Streets.

Meeting for Tochnit Av information

Residents of the area packed the room to hear announcement of the Tochnit Av, the master plan of a major Jerusalem building project.

Plans for Jerusalem Israel rebuilding

The Tochnit Av is for more than one neighborhood, first Rechavia, but also Moshava, Baka, all the way to the Katamonim.

The project aims to build up – and up, to add housing units.

Jerusalem renewal plans

The triangle of space in yellow off of Dov Kimhe is one of the areas for this project.

Plans for Dov Kimche Street Jerusalem Israel building

The old buildings on the left are to be replaced with a 21-story tower, and also a 9- and 10-story apartment buildings.

Jerusalem plans for Dov Kimche Street renewal project

Nursery schools, a shopping mall and hundreds of new units are projected.

Jerusalem Israel Dov Kimche Street project

Sounds great.

Only.

Now Tchernikofsky Street comes to a standstill in normal morning traffic.

Photo of Jerusalem Israel Dov Kimche Street at night

Dov Kimhe is a narrow, one lane road hardly wide enough for trucks to pass through.

Parking? The driver I saw at night did not want his photo taken, as he tried to fit on the side walk behind me which was full of cars.

To say the least, most of the property owners in the area are not pleased.

Jerusalem Israel Getaway building project

Meanwhile, the plan for the Jerusalem Gateway is progressing.

Every time one goes to the area there is a new traffic pattern.

Familiar streets are blocked and closed.

Streets and pedestrian crossings are constantly changing.

Building Jerusalem Israel Gateway project

Excavators and trucks are working in some of the fenced off areas.

This future center of the Jerusalem business district and Israeli government district is under construction.

Jerusalem is going up and up.

Mayor Nir Barkat is on his way out, and a new municipal government will be in, in the near future.

Sign for Jerusalem Israel Gateway Project with spelling error due to being short on space

But I sure hope that the municipal planning is better than the planning for Jerusalem street signs.

Truly amazing what has changed in the past ten or even four years. 

Even more amazing to see what will happen in Jerusalem in the next ten years.

Save the Nature Museum

Doctors are striking.

Protest tents are popping up like mushrooms in the parks.

The price of gas, electricity and temperatures are rising.

With so many serious issues at once, it was easy to miss a protest meeting

   to save the Nature Museum in Jerusalem.

Thousands of visitors drive down this little street leading

  to the Moshava Germanit, German Colony parking lot,

and probably never noticed the main entrance to the Nature Museum.

This old Armenian house and sprawling grounds are home

to the Nature Museum in Jerusalem,

where thousands of children have been exposed to nature and animal life.

In spite of the heat, a crowd gathered in the afternoon on July 26, 2011

to protest its threatened closure.

Professor Ariel Hershfeld was the first of several speakers.

City council member Meir Turgeman, who grew up in the neighborhood,

was the last speaker and called for the city to listen to its residents.

It was hard to gauge the attendance at the protest, as the many activities,

entertainment,

and animals provided constant distractions.

The soft music of this protest was quite a contrast to the loud demonstrations.

Will Shalem College get the grounds for its new campus?

The grounds of the Hanson Hospital are near by and could be restored

to offer a new and improved neighborhood Nature Museum.

There was mumbling in the crowd of another Holyland

where the interests of business and money

win over the interests of the people.

More photos are posted  on  The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page.