Office Tower Tenants Sue to Block Ultra-Orthodox Girls' School
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Tenants of the Mytower office building in Bnei Brak have filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary injunction to prevent an ultra-Orthodox girls' school from opening on the 13th floor. They argue the school violates the building's partnership agreement and safety regulations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Office tower tenants are suing to block an ultra-Orthodox girls' school.
- A temporary injunction has halted the school's planned opening.
- Plaintiffs cite violations of partnership agreements and safety rules.
- They claim the school would harm the building's prestige and value.
- The defendants have not yet responded to the lawsuit.
A legal battle has erupted in Bnei Brak over the planned opening of an ultra-Orthodox girls' school in the prestigious Mytower office building. Most rights holders in the building, located in the BBC complex, have filed a lawsuit against the establishment of the school on the 13th floor. A temporary injunction was issued last week, halting the school's planned August 25 opening.
The lawsuit targets the rights holder of the 13th floor, "C.Z. Property Management Company," the "Maayan HaChinuch HaTorani" network which leased the floor for office use and is subletting it to the "Tel Aviv Technological Institute" for the school. The plaintiffs argue that operating an educational institution in the tower fundamentally violates the building's partnership agreement. The building manager testified that the school's opening would cause significant damage, potentially turning the property into a "white elephant."
Plaintiffs claim the tower, designed as a high-end business and commercial center, is meant to maintain a quiet, professional environment for companies like tech firms and law offices. They describe the school's establishment as a "serious proprietary and planning hijack," aiming to transform an office floor into an educational campus for approximately 100 minor students and staff, contrary to regulations. They assert the defendants' application to change the floor's designation from offices to a vocational training center was not approved and has not yet been discussed by the local planning committee.
The plaintiffs also cite safety concerns, including the limited size of the protected space on the floor and Ministry of Education regulations prohibiting schools above the fifth floor. They also point to a lack of fire permits for this purpose and a missing license under the Supervision of Schools Law. The plaintiffs' attorneys stated that the court acted decisively to prevent the school's opening without proper permits, calling the attempt to operate it in an office tower a "brazen act." The defendants have not yet issued a response.