The Israel Land Authority has authorized Moriah Construction
to execute a large-scale plan for the expansion and
densification of Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood
through the addition of a total of 800 residential units and
a broad sweep of public areas and educational facilities.
Moriah received approval for the extensive plan following
efforts by Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Rabbi Uri Lopoliansky, who
also serves as Commissioner of Planning and Construction. The
plan was evaluated as part of an expansion and densification
program similar to programs carried out in Ramot and Kiryat
Yovel as well as the attempt to increase available housing in
Mattersdorf by building in Nachal Romema.
According to the plan approved by the Israel Land Authority
and the City of Jerusalem, approximately 1,100 additional
housing units will be built, including 800 units on existing
Urban Construction Plan lands. These housing units will be
built through expansive construction on a plot of land
covering 180,000 square meters (44 acres). In addition public
and educational facilities are slated for construction on
25,000 square meters (6 acres) of land as well as community
facilities such as a community center and library covering
15,000 square meters (4 acres). The new Urban Construction
Plan will also include 100,000 square meters (25 acres) of
office space and other places of employment.
During the first phase of construction the neighborhood will
be expanded in the framework of the existing Urban
Construction Plan and another 800 housing units and
educational facilities will be built. The modifications to
the Urban Construction Plan are being prepared by the Reches
Eshkol architectural firm and will be submitted to the
planning committees in another year- and-a-half.
Six months ago the planning committees approved the
construction of the Bnei Beitchah project in Ramat Shlomo.
This sells individual lots to homeowners who then undertake
to build private homes. In the coming weeks Moriah will begin
offering these units for sale on 76 lots. Deputy Mayor Rabbi
Lopoliansky expressed his surprise that the Bnei Beitchah
project, approved over a year ago, has not yet been offered
for sale. He said he hopes sales will begin soon, together
with the completion of the other expansion programs in
Jerusalem.
Moriah began the construction of Ramat Shlomo 11 years ago
when the Ministry of Construction and Housing sold the rights
to the land, and the seven associations that commissioned the
construction, including Degel HaTorah's Binyan Sholem, sold
hundreds of housing units. A total of 275 buildings contained
2,100 housing units were built on an area covering 1,200
dunams (300 acres).
