Housing Project at the Weizmann Institute of Science

Report of the meeting the ``vaadat higui''.

Sunday, October 24

Present: Niki, Yonathan, Suzanna, Michal Hermelin, Michal Yafet, Peter, Gad Kober, Israel Bar-Yosef, Aldo Shemesh, Emanuel Mazor, Daniel Zajfman

1. An relatively detailed map of the town was shown by Suzanna. The overall layout is has everybody knows, but there were much more details such as exact location of the houses (with their entrance door located as chosen by the tenants), parking, external parking, electricity and bezek boxes, garbage dump etc... There are many details, and it basically impossible to look at all of them, so that the discussion was made on a general level. Clearly, at some point, and before a final decision will be taken, everybody should have (and will have) a look at the map.
2. Among the various general problem, the location of the electricity boxes, which are located outside the houses, was discussed. As it is now, two houses share one box, which should be located symmetrically so that it doesn't take more space on one of the two lots. Suzanna was asked to take care of this, as this is not like this for all cases on the map. Also, a check will be made if a simple door (without key, as request by the Electricity Company) can be set on the box, in order to hide it.
3. The position of the individual garbage dump was discussed. As it is now, each individual garbage dump is located on the path leading to the entrance of the house, just after crossing the fence. This was judged to be unacceptable and Suzanna was asked to come with a proposition where the garbage dump is pointing toward the street, so that your guests (and yourself) do not have to smell the trash when you come home.
4. Emanuel Mazor has produced a list of items which are important for the town planning, such as type of lightning, letter box, location of air-conditioning units, etc.. The town designer (Suzanna) and the architect (Niki) will provide us with samples of these so we can make a choice, all based on the financial limitations setup by WIS.
5. An initial design of the fence of the house was shown by Suzanna. This is not yet final and will probably undergo various modifications. As it is now, the house fence is made of stones up to some height, and a semi-transparent metal fence is located on top of it. The overall height of the fence has to be decided. Suzana was asked to produced a drawing of a "typical" house so that we can get an idea of how this look like. Of course, once we get all these drawings, all the tenants will have a chance to take a look and give inputs.
6. There are still 6 houses without design. This makes the design of the whole town difficult to complete, as we are missing the door directions AND PARKING of these houses. The tenants of theses house should IMMEDIATELY contact Gad Kober or Niki in order to give the architects these two parameters. They should also speed up the complete design of the house so Yonathan can start to work on the construction plans. otherwise, the cost of their house will remain unknown. If this does not happen in a short time, the architects and town planner will have to decide by themselves about the parking location in the lot, and the tenants will be bound to respect their decision. So please, do not allow this to happen, and call one of the two persons mentioned above!
7. Suzanna was asked to present the final map of the town, including all design details, within a month.
8. Eastern exit from the shunna, main road: several months ago we had a long argument with the institute when they announced that they are not going to complete at first stage the pituah to this direction and they intend to leave the road closed. Our point was that the original map included an open road to that direction. During the meeting Gad Kober told us that the institute has decided not to construct (at least at this point) the exit eastern road and to leave it at an unclear yet, undeveloped road (dirt road of some kind- kvish afar). The reason given is the high cost to wis of the road at that end due to the local topography and the fact that part of the road leading to the present southern road will have to be demolished anyway when the topography of the new southern road will be finalized, thus creating wasted expense. It was presented that WIS will build it at a later stage, with the construction of the new road from the southern gate or after. No firm time frame was given and WIS cannot give a time frame now. In any case, the plan of the town will include the road with full development, so as to bind the institute in the future when the road is indeed completed. The landscaping of the eastern part bordering the proposed dirt road will be executed. A strong discussion took place about (1) the reason for the WIS to suddenly decide not to build this road, and (2) the implications for the tenants. As for point (1), it is all a matter of expenses on the WIS side (and WIS wil try to re-evaluate the costs of actually completing the road now), and for point (2) it is all up to us. We need your input directly to Daniel or Aldo on this matter as the the committee does not have a consensus opinion about it.

Home page