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."
