Hotel to overlook Kidron Valley (archives)
צילום: לע"מ
200-room hotel to be built in east Jerusalem
Seven-floor hotel slated to be constructed on western slopes of Kidron Valley
The Interior Ministry's district committee for planning and building in the Jerusalem area last week approved a plan for the construction of a new hotel in east Jerusalem.
The hotel is slated to have seven floors and 200 rooms, and will be built on the western slopes of the Kidron Valley, on the northeastern side of the Old City wall.
The plan was initiated by the Jerusalem Development Authority for the Jerusalem Municipality.
The area where the hotel is planned to be built currently includes several stores, which – according to the plan – will be moved to a building constructed on the other side of the street. This building is meant to also include two kindergartens and a welfare center.
"The hotel will be characterized by terraced building," the committee said in a statement. "The hotel's roof will be developed as a public square on the street level, from where one will be able to look over the Mount of Olives and Kidron Valley, which will also be enjoyed by guests staying in rooms build in accordance with the hill's topographic path. A public path connecting between the street level and the valley is planned next to the square."
An Interior Ministry official said that "the decision was made as part of the committee's policy to promote planning in the area of east Jerusalem's main business center and is aimed at attracting the public and promoting tourism in the city."
As part of this policy, two weeks ago the committee approved a plan for another hotel, which will also have 200 rooms, on the site of the Fiber Institute in Jerusalem's German Colony neighborhood. The plan will stretch over 1.73 acres and the hotel is slated to include eight floors.
'Plan to upgrade quality of life'
Following reports that the approval of the east Jerusalem hotel caused anger in the American administration after it had made its stance regarding building in the eastern part of the city clear, the Jerusalem Municipality said that "this plan has been promoted for about 12 years by the Jerusalem Development Authority."The plan includes the construction of a hotel, a kindergarten, a firefighters station and a commercial center which will serve the residents of east Jerusalem. The plan will advance the economy of the city's residents in general and the residents of east Jerusalem in particular. In addition, the plan will upgrade the residents' quality of life and reconstruct the area.
"The plan is being carried out in cooperation with the public and the area's merchants and in order to meet the needs of the market merchants in east Jerusalem and the area's residents."
