Last update - 00:00 26/11/2006
J'lem mayor seeks greens' support for freezing plan to expand city
By Jonathan Lis and Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondents
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski is to meet Sunday with ecological organizations to announce his decision to freeze plans to expand Jerusalem to the west. In his first official meeting with the groups, Lupolianski is expected to ask them for their support on a number of moves, among them increasing the density of construction in the capital's existing neighborhoods to alleviate a housing shortage.
Haaretz learned Friday of Lupolianski's recent decision to shelve the controversial plan, conceived by architect Moshe Safdie, in favor of dense city center construction. The mayor's stand on the issue is crucial in a final decision on the plan, to be made soon by the National Council on Planning and Building.
The ecological organizations are concerned the plan will result in widespread destruction of open spaces around the city.
"Strengthening the heart of the city and protecting the open spaces around it is the right thing for Jerusalem," the chairman of the Knesset environmental lobby, MK Michael Melchior (Labor) said. Melchior added that cooperation between lawmakers and members of the environmental groups had created the right atmosphere for the mayor's decision.
A statement released by the environmental organizations, including the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Coalition for the Preservation of the Jerusalem Mountains and Sustainable Jerusalem also praised the mayor's decision to freeze the Safdie plan, and said they would take part in a joint team to formulate an alternative construction plan within the city.
The organizations said they were waiting for the meeting with the mayor to receive further clarification on his exact plans.