Saying farewell to a piece of history: Jerusalem's historical flour mill in Givat Shaul was demolished this Monday after receiving a permit from the Jerusalem Municipality for its demolition at the beginning of the week. The mill was demolished following a plan for future construction on the site. The plan, which is awaiting official approval, involves the construction of a compound on over 13.5 dunams in the area of the former mill between the Givat Shaul and Kiryat Moshe neighborhoods.
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The aim of the plan is to develop the area and construct a multi-use compound for employment, commerce, housing, and hospitality purposes. The compound will also feature public facilities and diverse open spaces for the use of the area's residents. The site is strategically located at the intersection of three major Jerusalem neighborhoods (Beit HaKerem, Kiryat Moshe, and Givat Shaul). It is close to Highway 16, the new gateway to the city that is currently under construction, and to planned and existing light rail stations.
The Ir Olam project by the ISA Group, headed by Akiva Zuravin and Shalom Griva, will, in their words, "transport Jerusalem into the 21st century and create the capital's new entrance quarter."
"The project will spread out over more than 80,000 sq.m. and will include luxury apartments, state-of-the-art office towers, a business hotel, an event hall, a new medical center, an internal shopping promenade, restaurants and cafés, a spacious supermarket, two light rail lines (the new green line and the existing line to Mount Herzl), and, of course, it will constitute the new entrance to the city for those arriving via Highway 16," they said.
The plan combines perimeter-block construction along Farbstein and Beit HaDfus Streets and the construction of two 30-story towers. It borders Farbstein Street (on the east) and Beit HaDfus Street (on the north), where it adjoins the area where a new road connecting to Highway 16 is to be built.
The permit issued by the Local Planning and Building Committee is for demolition, reinforcement, excavation, and the laying of foundations in the flour mill compound on 1 Beit HaDfus Street.
The area is a lot designated as an "industrial zone." At this stage the developers received an excavation permit for future construction intended for residential purposes, hospitality facilities, commerce, and office space. In parallel, another request was submitted to the Licensing Department for a permit to construct the compound's underground floors – 4 floors for underground parking. At this stage the permits were requested based on the Jerusalem Zoning Plan, according to which the compound is intended for industrial purposes, with 224% construction rights on 4 floors.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion: "We're going to implement a major plan in the area to respond to the urban needs of the area's residents. It will include employment facilities, commercial space, residential units, hospitality facilities, open spaces, and, no less importantly – the compound will enjoy high transportation access to all parts of the city.
This accessibility will be achieved thanks to Highway 16 – the highway that will bring a major change to the city's transport map and provide a new gateway to the city. Accessibility will also be provided by the light rail lines, which will create a transport network throughout the length and breadth of the city."
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Leon added: "A series of large urban projects are at this time in different stages of planning and construction. When these plans are completed, Israel's capital will become a city that optimally combines housing, education, culture, social facilities, employment, tourism, higher education, and open public spaces, while diligently maintaining its high social and environmental level."
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