Weekly Update 06

September 20, 2024

Hello everyone,

Today’s update will focus on a central area located in the heart of the moshava—an important space that has partly been transformed into a community and educational center. However, I have a well-founded concern that if we do not address this issue today, it may in the future turn into a real estate nightmare of high-density construction that will clog and block the pedestrian mall and the heart of the moshava. In a process that may have already begun, a valuable public space will be turned into a neighborhood that benefits developers while we, the residents, lose out.

I am referring to the site of what was once the old Ya’abetz School, located at 100 Ha-Meyasdim Street.

Today, this building—designated as a site for public buildings—is used for community activities and has the capacity to accommodate even more. The building underwent renovation during Ziv Deshe’s term, including dozens of classrooms and various spaces, a massive shelter, parking for dozens of vehicles, a sports field for public use, and even a transit station adjacent to public transportation.

Thanks to the renovation, since the previous term, the building has served the public in several ways:

• The “Hila” Educational Center—an educational framework for high school graduation for students for whom this social-educational setting is more suitable than a regular high school. The center enables many young people to continue in a setting tailored to their needs and prevents them from dropping out of the educational system. The facility operates in the western wing of the Ya’abetz building under the auspices of the Ministry of Education’s Shahar Division and the Council’s Education Department.
• The community workshop, which also serves as a center for sustainability and community. It operates in the large eastern wing of the building in the courtyard and is run by volunteers, the Zamrin Community Center, and the Environmental Quality Department.
• Activities of the “Moad” community synagogue, which contributes greatly to the Zichron Yaakov community. It operates in the small hall in another wing of the building.
• During Ziv’s term, the building was designated to serve as a center for senior citizens, a youth center, and a home for artists and creators. The building was renovated and adapted to ensure accessibility for the elderly population and the general public. During the previous term, a budget of 700,000 NIS was approved, and an additional 300,000 NIS is still required. However, Abutbul is unwilling to complete the construction of the elevator and expand the building’s use for its much-needed public purposes.
• About three years ago, a system of photovoltaic panels was installed on the building’s roof to generate electricity from green energy. Prior to their installation, the building received a structural stability approval from a structural engineer, who authorized the placement of the panels on the roof.
• During the 2023-2024 school year, students from Nili School studied there while work was underway to reinforce and renovate their school. To this end, extensive safety work was carried out on the building. The building received all the required safety approvals; otherwise, permission for the children to remain there would not have been granted.

It is no coincidence that I keep pointing out that the building has passed safety inspections and is approved for use. Because the claim that Abutbul repeatedly raises at council meetings is that this is a building slated for demolition. And that is why he is unwilling to complete the construction of the elevator. Yes, hard to believe—a building slated for demolition.

Why would the council head take an active public building—which has safety certifications and where hundreds of students studied safely last year—and decide it is slated for demolition? It is important to understand that building a public structure of this size today would cost the council nearly 30 million NIS, so who stands to gain from demolishing the building?

To answer this, we must understand the land on which 100 HaMeisadim is located: the complex is divided into two plots, one owned by the council and the other by the Israel Land Authority (ILA).Before introducing community uses for the building, the council, led by Ziv Deshe, formalized an agreement with the ILA so that the building could host a variety of public activities and not just serve as an educational facility. This important step taken by the outgoing council allows for extensive uses that benefit the community.

However, according to the agreement, if the council does not use the ILA land for public activities —the land must revert to Rami’s ownership, and Rami will immediately convert the area from public use to residential use or to a mixed-use development combining residential and high-density commercial spaces, as permitted by TAMA 35/4 guidelines.

If the Israel Land Authority converts its portion of the land to residential use—the Council, too, after declaring the building slated for demolition, will join in and convert its portion to residential use as well—and just like that, we’ll have residential buildings in the heart of the moshava. In an area that’s already congested today.

So what would you prefer to see happen at 100 HaMeisadim? Continued educational and community-based public activities, or high-density, high-rise construction.

Our party is determined to advance a plan that will preserve the existing agreement with the Israel Land Authority and ensure the continuation and expansion of public activities in this area. The party leader, Dr. Avigayil Dolev, is an architect who seeks to put her expertise to work for the benefit of the residents—including regarding this complex. What will convince the council head to preserve public activities? Only exposing the truth (which is what this newsletter does) and pressure from the residents.

Yours,

Limor Zar Gutman

The “Lema’an HaMoshava” Party