Jerusalem Halts Mega-Development Plan Over Football Training Fields
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Jerusalem's municipality has blocked a major development plan called "Emek Zion" that would have built over the Beitar Jerusalem football club's training grounds. The city argues the plan's proposed relocation of the fields would cripple the club's operations. The development, spearheaded by the Israel Land Authority, includes 1,650 new apartments and is considered crucial for connecting neighborhoods and expanding Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The ILA is now searching for alternative sites for the football fields.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Jerusalem's municipality halted the "Emek Zion" development plan over concerns for Beitar Jerusalem's training fields.
- The plan included 1,650 new apartments and was presented by the Israel Land Authority.
- The city argues the proposed new fields would be insufficient and detrimental to the football club.
- The development is also intended to expand Shaare Zedek Medical Center and connect city neighborhoods.
- The Israel Land Authority is now seeking alternative locations for the football training facilities.
Jerusalem's municipality has halted a massive construction plan, "Emek Zion," slated for the 194-dunam training complex of the Beitar Jerusalem football club in Beit Vagan. The Israel Land Authority (ILA) is spearheading the project, which includes building 1,650 apartments in four 50-story towers and one 40-story tower, along with commercial and employment spaces. The plan, however, would reduce Beitar Jerusalem's training facilities to only two football fields, located half a kilometer apart, with one to be built on a commercial center's roof and deemed non-standard for games.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion stated that a football club of Beitar's size cannot function effectively under such conditions, citing issues with continuous coaching, equipment duplication, separate gym facilities, and the inability for joint team activities. The municipality officially opposed the plan following a meeting last Thursday where the ILA presented its proposed solution for the fields. Consequently, a scheduled discussion by the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Commission on the plan's final approval was canceled at the city's request.
The ILA is now seeking alternative solutions within Jerusalem, acknowledging the difficulty of finding suitable large plots due to the city's hilly terrain. The municipality insists that at least two fields remain connected to meet the club's needs, including a gym and locker rooms. One proposed solution involves extending the cover of Highway 16 to create space for a field, while another option is to find suitable land elsewhere.
The "Emek Zion" project is considered vital for Jerusalem's development, aiming to connect neighborhoods, improve access to light rail lines, and expand Shaare Zedek Medical Center with a $200 million donation from WhatsApp founder Yan Koum. It also includes expanding the Shalva organization's facilities to create a national emergency rehabilitation center for the injured, in synergy with the hospital.
The training grounds have a complex ownership history, involving private individuals, companies, and state entities. Beitar Jerusalem sold its rights to the fields in 1999 due to financial distress. The club, currently owned by Moshe Hogeg, continued to train there despite years of legal and business disputes over the land's potential for residential development. Hadas Capital acquired the rights holder, Neot Beit Vagan, in January 2022 for approximately 120 million shekels.
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