The special committee for planning and approving works in the Haredi city of Menora (-Kasif) in the south, approved the submission of the plan for the Rishonim Quarter.
This is the first plan being promoted for implementation as part of the establishment of the city of Menora - a new city in the Tel Arad junction area in the Negev.
The Ministry of Construction and Housing has been leading the planning of the Menorah city for about a decade, as part of an overall government policy to develop new settlements in the periphery and increase the supply of housing for the ultra-Orthodox public in Israel.
The Rishonim District is the first district to be built within the new city. The district includes 6,000 housing units, alongside commercial and employment areas, public buildings and open spaces.
It will cover 3,000 dunams and will be designed as a mixed-use development, with continuous construction, shaded streets, pedestrian and bicycle paths, commercial centers, public institutions, and green lungs.
The Menora city in the south will cover a total area of approximately 7,200 dunams, and will include additional residential neighborhoods that will be developed later.
The entire city was designed with a modern approach to accessibility, energy saving, adaptation to the desert climate, and sustainable planning.
The city is also planning advanced transportation systems, educational institutions, health, welfare and employment services, everything needed to create a complete and stable living environment.
According to the National Economic Council's strategic housing plan, by 2050, approximately 200,000 additional housing units will be required for the Haredi population.
The establishment of the city of Menora in the south, with the Rishonim District as initial infrastructure, is a direct response to this need, and will contribute to narrowing the gap and strengthening development trends in the Negev.
The city is expected to integrate into the cluster of settlements of the eastern Negev, and strengthen the entire region economically, transportationally, and socially, including Arad, Dimona, and Yeruham.
Director General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing, Yehuda Morgenstern: "The district plan approved today is the result of professional and sensitive planning work, which will enable the establishment of an advanced city with services, employment and adapted planning. This is a key step in the strategic infrastructure for housing, which is also based on planning that sees the importance of the connections between the continuity of settlements in the area and is adapted to the needs that arise from the area. At the same time, we are working to provide a response to the challenge of developing jobs and ensuring employment resilience in the area.""
Vered Solomon Maman, Chief Architect in the Senior Planning Department: "The Rishonim Quarter in Menora was carefully planned to meet the diverse needs of the residents, while taking into account the desert climate and creating an accessible and pleasant urban environment. The planning includes residences, employment, leisure, and services within walking distance, and promotes a connection between the residents and their surroundings. The project constitutes a significant step in the development of infrastructure and the urban fabric in the Negev. I would like to thank Shulamit Gretel, Director of the Urban Department, for her professional and meticulous guidance over the years.""
The Rishonim Quarter was designed by the Man-Shinar Architects firm, led by architect Ami Shinar.
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