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Jerusalem's Merchants Support Karta's Decision not to Approve Deviation from Mamilla Zoning

by Bezalel Kahn
Special to Yated Ne'eman

The Regional Planning Committee has decided to postpone deliberations on the suggested changes in the building plans of the Mamilla mall, currently in preliminary stages of construction opposite the Jaffa Gate. The developer recently asked for a variance in the original zoning to allow him to build several movie theaters on areas that were slated to remain open walkways in the original plan.

As a result of this decision, the mall's developer, Alfred Akirov, announced at a joint press conference of the members of the Knesset's Lemaan Yerushalayim lobby that he will soon complete the building of the mall's basement, and immediately afterwards resign from the project. Concomitantly, he has announced that he will sue the State of Israel for indemnities in the sum of hundreds of millions of shekels.

In reaction to Akirov's claims, senior Karta officials have said that it will now publicize new tenders for the building of the entire commercial center in Mamilla. "Akirov received 90% of the area free of charge, and seeks to obtain the remaining 10% for free, too. At least we will be able to profit from the new promoter who will enter the picture," a senior member of the company said.

Later on in the week, additional reactions to the decision of the company's Board of Directors not to approve the building plans on the area of the shopping mall, were heard. Avrohom Poraz (Shinui) sent a letter to the heads of Karta, in which he wrote: "It seems as if Karta's decision, which is based on the decision of the Board of Directors to refuse to sign the requests, is illegal."

According to Poraz, there is no restriction regarding the granting of permits to build cinemas on an area which, according to its plans, has been slated for commerce. "It seems as if the refusal to sign stems from outlandish considerations, in other words religious considerations which oppose the company's obligation to function according to commercial lines of activity and considerations." Poraz threatens that he will consider bringing the issue to a legal test, if the company doesn't sign Akirov's requests for building permits.

Contrary to this, the Jerusalem Merchants' Federation bolstered the decision of the Board of Directors of Karta in a letter sent to Jerusalem's mayor, Ehud Olmert. Avraham Birnbaum, chairman of the Jerusalem Merchants' Federation, wrote that the Jerusalem shopkeepers support the decision of the Board of Directors not to approve the building plan, and if another decision is made, they will demonstrate against it.

In his letter, Birnbaum also states that, "Uzi Wexler [member of Karta's Board of Directors] had done his utmost to create commercial areas to compete with the merchants in Jerusalem's center. He encouraged the building of the Malcha Mall as well as the mall in the city's north. He was active in forbidding private vehicles to enter Jerusalem's center from Tzahal Square and the Cheshin junction, and now is trying to transfer the main shopping area from the center of the city to the Mamilla area."

According to Birnbaum, "Most of Jerusalem's residents are either chareidim, religious or traditional. In our opinion, it is forbidden to undermine the status quo in Jerusalem, and to build cinemas in an area which is on the way to the Kosel and near the walls of the Old City. If Karta changes its decision or bypasses it, not only will the chareidi and religious public demonstrate against it, but so will Jerusalem's merchants."


 

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