23 Sderot Zvi - Is it possible to build two buildings without damaging ancient trees? | TMA 38 in Haifa

In one of the most beautiful streets in Haifa, in an area commonly called "the old Carmel", is Sderot Tzvi Street. What makes the street special are the large trees that are on both sides of the one-way road and shade the sidewalks and the road. Over the years the roots of the trees have caused damage to the road itself and driving on the street is not easy because of the potholes created by the roots, but still the sight revealed to those who come to the street is very beautiful.

A few years ago, the TMA 38 project began to take shape, in the Pinoy Binui route, in building number 23 on the street. The plan is to demolish the existing building and build two buildings in its place.

 23 Sderot Zvi - map

Around the building that exists today is a large garden and thus there is an area that can be enough for two buildings. The plan was approved on the condition that during the construction they cut up to 5 trees and no more and now the developer is trying to get a building permit in order to start building. The owners of the unit have not been living in the building for several months. It should be noted that the cost of a unit on Sderot Zvi is very expensive, especially if it is a new building with private parking, so this is a project that is apparently expected to generate a large profit. Tenants who live in nearby buildings and Haifa's green faction are following the progress of the project and are disturbed by what they claim is expected damage to the trees and the environment.

"It is very important for us to ensure that there is no damage to the environment as a result of the project," says the chairman of the Green faction, Avihu Han, who accompanies the tenants opposing the project, "We are not against urban renewal and TMA projects in the path of building evacuation and we are aware of the advantages inherent in them, but we will do everything in our power so that it will not be at the expense of the environment.

In the case of the building at 23 Sderot Zvi, the chance that it will be possible to build two buildings here and that trucks will come and go with construction materials and the trees here will survive it is zero. Until a real solution is found for the trees here, we believe there is no room to finally approve the project. There are trees here many decades old, their contribution to the extraordinary appearance of the street is very great, it is impossible for them to be uprooted in order to build another building. I have no doubt that the residents of the city want us to protect nature and not allow construction while harming nature."

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In the building next to 23 Sderot Zvi lives Eyal Rosenbert, who is very worried about what might happen to the trees during construction:

"We are very afraid of what will happen here and that is why we brought two experts here. Both agreed that there is no chance that during the construction all the trees in the lot will not be damaged. It is important to understand that those who look at the lot from the sidewalk only see part of the trees, but if you enter the lot you see all the trees and there are trees here Even from the time of the Templars, which must be preserved.

The permit that the developer received means that he can cut down 5 trees, what worries us is what happened in a previous project of the same developer. In that project, all the trees were damaged, even though there was no permission for this. The problem is that after the trees are cut down there is not much to do and we want to do everything possible to avoid this situation.

We wanted to submit an objection to the forestry official, but in order to submit the objection we need to obtain a felling permit from the municipality. The municipality does not issue the document, which states that some of the trees in the lot can be cut down, so we cannot object.

Along with our concern about what is going to happen in the lot next to our house, we have another concern. There are quite a few buildings on our street that have become interested in clearing Binui or TMA 38. We want to make sure that all these projects are done while preserving the unique trees on our street. Today, when we go down Sderot Zvi, we will discover an unusual sight of huge trees shading the street, we do not We want the uniqueness of the street to disappear."

Avihan Han addressed a letter to Deputy Mayor Nachshon Tzuk, who serves as the chairman of the Haifa Local Planning and Construction Committee, with a request to examine the possible damage to the environment and trees in the process of clearing a building at 23 Sderot Zvi.

To: Nachshon Tzuk - Chairman of the Haifa Local Planning and Construction Committee
Copy: Ariel Wetterman, Haifa city engineer
Michi Alper - Chairman of the Haifa Planning and Construction Subcommittee

Greetings,

At 23 Hazvi St., a building permit is being promoted as part of the TAMA 38 plan for eviction and construction.
The plan was rejected by the local planning and construction committee on 14.11.2016 and after holding procedures in the appeal committee the plan was approved under conditions. One of the main conditions allows the felling of only 5 trees in the lot area.
In the lot there are dozens of old trees that are many decades old that need to be preserved. The developer is trying to advance the building permit.
The tree survey that was carried out does not fully show the condition of the trees that need to be preserved.
In addition, there is a real concern that in the overall digging process in the lot, many trees that need to be preserved will be destroyed.
I will ask for your immediate intervention before issuing the building permit to examine the situation, to update the survey of the tree map and adapt it to reality, and in addition to provide close accompaniment and the provision of instructions and guidelines required to preserve the trees that are intended for preservation.
In the examination I conducted in the field, there is a high probability that many trees that are intended for conservation will be damaged.
This plan will damage the special texture of Deer Blvd. in a way that cannot be restored.
Requesting your intervention in the matter and the suspension of the building permit until the situation is examined.

The municipality's response was not provided by the time of the article's publication, despite a request from the Chai Pa system. If the Haifa Municipality decides to respond, we will attach the response, when received.