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Engineer: J'lem center could become environmental eyesore By Ranit Nachum-Halevy The tract of land known as Gush 50 in central Jerusalem - surrounded by Harav Kook, Strauss, Yafo and Nevi'im streets - and which was coveted by real estate developers Lev Leviev, Arcadi Gaydamak, Shaya Boymelgreen and others, could become an environmental eyesore, warns city engineer Shlomo Eshkol. Eshkol wrote this assessment in an opinion submitted to the Jerusalem region appeal committee, ahead of a hearing on the appeal filed by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel against luxury housing and commercial project planned for Harav Kook St. by Leviev's Africa Israel and its partner, Shainfeld Building and Developments. How did Gush 50, which many people thought would be a hot spot for luxury development projects for foreign residents, become a source of irritation? Eshkol says the main cause is the state of the luxury housing market, which is down in the dumps, and the strict application of the urban building plans to Africa Israel's project, which consists of 130 apartments in three buildings. Advertisement According to the urban building plan for that area, the lower floors of Africa Israel's project must be designated for commercial and hotel space. Only the upper floors, which are to be built as a separate section of the building, can be sold as residential apartments. The plans submitted by Africa Israel, however, designate only a small portion of the ground floor for commercial space, and 95% of the buildings for residential apartments. The SPNI, therefore, objected to the plans, on the grounds that the approval of the plans was illegal. Contrary to the urban building plan, Eshkol believes that the project should be approved as a residential complex, as planned by Africa Israel. "The difficult economic situation is making it harder for developers to invest in the city and it is inappropriate to put obstacles in the way of anyone who wants to build here," says Eshkol. "Unfortunately, in the eight years since the plan was approved, construction in Gush 80 has progressed very slowly," continues Eshkol. "This concerns Africa Israel's application for a building permit, too. Another application by Africa Israel was rejected, and construction is under way at only one site. There is a real fear that Gush 50 will remain a neglected eyesore in the city center for many years." Shaked Avraham, the nature conservation coordinator for the SPNI in the Judean Hills region, has a different point of view. "The local committee's decision is illegal and was given without authority," says Avraham. "That kind of approval can only be given by the regional [planning and building] committee after an application to change the urban building plan. "Back when [Africa Israel's plan] was first approved, we pointed this out to the outgoing chairman of the local [planning and building] committee, but we were ignored," he continued. A position paper issued recently by the Tourism Ministry states that the ministry also objects to any change in the designation of the ground floor in the Harav Kook St. compound, from hotel space to residential apartments. The regional appeals committee is due to decide on the SPNI's appeal in the near future. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Celebrity conversion Lindsay Lohan is said to be converting to Judaism for her DJ girlfriend. Settlement expansion Peace Now: Israel planning 73,300 new homes in the West Bank.

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