Jerusalem Committee Advances Mixed-Use Complex Over Harel Interchange
Jerusalem district authorities advanced a plan for a mixed-use complex above Highway 1's Harel Interchange, featuring 200 apartments, 300 protected housing units, and commercial spaces to bridge Mevaseret Zion.
The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee has decided to deposit a new plan for the construction of a mixed-use urban complex above the Harel Interchange on Highway 1, within the jurisdiction of the Mevaseret Zion Regional Council. Spanning approximately 37 dunams, the unique initiative aims to utilize currently undeveloped land around the interchange to create an urban continuum connecting the two parts of the settlement separated by Highway 1.
The project includes the construction of 200 new housing units, with 100 units designated for long-term rental over a period of 15 years, alongside 300 protected housing units for the elderly. In addition to residential spaces, the plan provides about 26,000 square meters of commercial and employment space, as well as approximately 4,700 square meters for public uses.
The proposed construction reaches up to seven stories, integrating residential, commercial, employment, and public services in a single location. The planning seeks to transform the Harel Interchange area, which currently serves primarily as a transportation corridor, into an active and accessible urban hub bridging the divided sections of Mevaseret Zion.
Jerusalem District Planner at the Planning Administration, architect Dan Kenan, emphasized the significance of the project:
"This is a plan expected to greatly contribute to Mevaseret Zion by increasing the supply of protected housing and long-term rentals for young families, alongside expanding commercial and employment areas. The project also serves as an example of out-of-the-box thinking, turning unused land in the heart of the settlement into an integral part of the urban fabric."
