Local Planning and Construction Committee of the Jerusalem Municipality approves new development plan for the Arab al-Sawahra neighborhood that will help bridge the gaps in eastern Jerusalem.

The Local Planning and Construction Committee of the Jerusalem Municipality, headed by Senior Deputy Mayor Kobi Kachlon, approved a new development plan for the Arab al- Sawahra neighborhood east of Jabil Mukhaber.

According to the plan, the neighborhood will be reorganized in a legal and orderly manner that will expand the neighborhood with the construction of 2,200 residential units and the addition of public spaces for the benefit of residents. The plan was approved as part of Mayor Nir Barkat’s policy of unifying Jerusalem by reducing the gaps existing in the eastern part of the city, upgrading the standard of living and assuming responsibility for all activities taking place in Arab neighborhoods in all fields of life – building and planning, infrastructure, education, welfare, and cultural, recreational, community and social activities.

As part of this plan, there will be wide scale construction of commerce and employment centers, public buildings, schools, new roads, neighborhood parks and more. The scale of housing, commerce, office and hotel construction suggested by the plan is at a scope of 40% of the area included in the plan, so as to preserve wide public areas for the benefit of the residents.

The Municipality notes that the Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem have grown and developed in the last several decades with no master plan or outline which would have allowed the organization of all aspects of living in the neighborhoods (legal construction of housing, setting aside land for public, commerce and employment purposes, the organization of the road system). The lack of planning led to a widespread phenomenon of illegal building which is estimated to include 20,000 illegal buildings to date, some of which were built on areas intended for public use. This illegal building also meant that many residents did not pay the required taxes, which in turn enable the municipality to invest resources in public infrastructure. In addition, the lack of land and ownership registry in wide areas of the eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods made it difficult to manage an enforcement and planning policy.

In light of this systemic failure, the mayor decided to take a proactive approach in order to facilitate a significant change. The Mayor has instructed the Municipality professionals to provide an overall plan for all the eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods, which includes a road system, public buildings and open areas, the re-organization of illegal buildings and the legalization of buildings in accordance with the master plan.

As part of the framework of the new plan, the municipality assisted with the legalization and swift authorization of many structures in eastern Jerusalem, and advanced the planning of public buildings, roads, parking lots, green areas and public areas. In addition, for the first time in decades, the Jerusalem City Council has designated street names and building numbers for all structures in eastern Jerusalem. The new street names and building numbers dramatically improve the ability of emergency and rescue services to arrive at the neighborhoods, the ability of residents to receive mail, and the ability of visitors find their way around the neighborhood. The new “ID” provided to buildings in eastern Jerusalem makes it possible to clearly connect between a resident and a building. This, in turn, reflects on the resident’s need to fulfill their obligation towards the authorities (the payment of municipal taxes, for example) and eases the ability to systematically regulate illegal construction.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)