The Jerusalem District Committee has approved M.O. Epstein’s plan to construct a 40-story tower on Herzl Boulevard between the Kiryat HaYovel and Bayit Vagan neighborhoods. The building will house 240 apartments, 11,000 square meters for hotels, 300 square meters for commerce, and 4,000 square meters for a museum and cultural center. The committee decided to reduce the tower’s height by 30 meters from the original proposal.

By Doron Bruitman, Nadlan Center

The committee, chaired by Shira Talmi Babai, gave the green light to the Epstein compound plan, which includes a mixed-use tower nicknamed Jerusalem’s “Burj Khalifa” after the iconic Dubai skyscraper. The plan features residential, commercial, and hotel spaces and rental housing.

The project, which received approximately 200 objections,  covers about seven dunams on Herzl Boulevard, between Kiryat HaYovel and Bayit Vagan, near the light rail route and adjacent to a light rail station and park-and-ride facility. The plan was submitted by the international architectural firm M.O. Epstein Ltd. and designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architects.

The 40-story tower will consist of 240 residential units, with about 50 allocated for small apartments of up to 55 square meters. Another 50 units will be reserved for long-term rentals, guaranteed for a minimum of 12 years. The plan also provides 11,000 square meters of hotel space, 300 square meters for commercial use, and 4,000 square meters for a public building, which will house a museum and cultural center.

The District Committee found the alternative of a single 40-story mixed-use building superior to other proposals, including two 25-story towers. The final decision was to lower the structure by 30 meters and designate eight floors, including 50 residential units, for long-term rental. Notably, although concerns were raised about potential impacts on Mount Herzl, Yad Vashem, and Yad Labanim, neither Yad Vashem nor Yad Labanim submitted formal objections.

Jerusalem District Planner Arch. Dan Keinan stated, “This plan aligns with the committee’s policy of concentrating development near light rail routes to preserve open spaces and provide housing solutions for young couples in the city.”

Shira Talmi Babai, Chairperson of the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee, added, “This plan represents exceptional architectural quality, contributing to the momentum of urban renewal in Jerusalem. It will enable improved planning and help us tackle the city’s complex development challenges.”