Partial victory for nature: A construction plan in Jerusalem will be built on a third of the planned area

A protracted civil struggle that included the submission of thousands of objections was a success, when Mayor Moshe Leon announced a significant change in the "White Ridge" plan to build more than 5,000 housing units.

The Society for the Protection of Nature welcomed the move: "An impressive environmental achievement, the plan will ensure thousands of dunams of open space"

Yael Friedson

08/03/2022

Tuesday, 08 March 2022, 13:03 Updated: 13:14

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Simulation of the original plan "White Ridge" (Photo: official website, Kolker Kolker and Epstein Architects)

The Jerusalem Municipality announced today (Tuesday) a significant change in the "White Ridge" construction plan, which was expected to cause extensive damage to open spaces in the city.

This, after years of civic struggle waged by green organizations against the project which included the submission of thousands of objections.

Instead of the original plan, this morning Mayor Moshe Leon presented an alternative plan, which was praised by the Society for the Protection of Nature.

However, despite the essential teeth, Leon's program has come under criticism from several green organizations.

At a press conference in Maayan Ein Lavan today, Leon announced that "the 'White Ridge' program, in its familiar format, will not be established. The program will be replaced by the alternative we call 'in a row in white'."

According to him, the plan prevents the felling of about ten thousand trees and promotes the declaration of a national park on 500 dunams from the previous plan, which will also serve as a checkpoint for generations, and will prevent the possibility of promoting White Ridge A, B and C.

More on Walla!

Plan for the construction of thousands of housing units in the Conservation Ridge in Jerusalem approved: "High environmental price"

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"A great victory of nature."

Leon (Photo: Reuven Castro)

According to the new plan, construction will only be possible in the violated areas, already today, in an area of ​​about 300 dunams compared to 800 dunams in the original plan.

The 500 dunams taken out of the construction plan will be declared a national park.

Removing the 500 dunams (65% of the original plan area) from the built-up area will preserve 99% of the percolation areas of the springs, save about ten thousand trees from felling and serve as a barrier against plans to build a white ridge B, C, and D.

Another barrier and real protection is to prevent the entry of a light rail line into the neighborhood, which will make it difficult for any future plan.

"There has never been such a thing in Israel to this day. And I hope it is a sign and a sign of things to come, not only in Jerusalem, but in the entire State of Israel," Leon said.

"We will not allow the promotion of construction plans on the slopes of Hadassah and we will not allow additional open areas to be harmed until all possibilities within the occupied and violated areas are exhausted, by way of urban renewal, densification and high-rise construction along the light rail axis."

Leon concluded: "I have not had the privilege of seeing such a great victory of nature and the environment. I am more proud today than ever to be a man of Jerusalem. The gospel in white is the legacy I leave for my children."

More housing units, less space

While the original plan included about 5,250 low-rise housing units spanning the ridge, the new plan includes dense construction of about 6,000 housing units near the light rail, taking into account claims raised by green organizations.

The big concern is damage to nearby springs, including the Ein Lavan spring, one of the favorite water sources in the Jerusalem mountains.

According to the Jerusalem Municipality, the new construction area does not harm the infiltration area of ​​the springs and preserves them.

Protesters against white car (Photo: PR)

The Society for the Protection of Nature welcomed the move and praised the mayor.

"This means that the new, smaller and more limited plan announced by the mayor will, in fact, guarantee thousands of dunams of open space. There is no doubt that this is a great success and an impressive environmental achievement, which came thanks to many years of professional and public struggle," the company said.

The "Save the Jerusalem Mountains" movement, which led the youth struggle against the White Ridge program, attacked the program.

"The new plan is proof that the" White Ridge A "plan is a disaster, which, if approved, will provide an infrastructure for the continued destruction of the open areas by the White Ridge B, C and D plans, the slopes of Hadassah and the Mount Herat quarry."

"We have not provided the public with enough information about the new plan so that we can have an informed opinion about it. If the plan does not include broad and immediate protection of the Jerusalem mountains, our goal has not been achieved and we will continue to oppose."

However, other green organizations have reacted cautiously to the plan and sought to study it in depth.

The Green Jerusalem Foundation said it welcomed "the mayor's initiative to save most of the natural property, trees, springs and animals in the White Ridge.

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