THE FUTURE QUARTER
OF THE YOUNG
AFTER A LONG PLANNING PROCESS, IN MARCH 2013 THE MEMBERS OF THE NOAH INITIATIVE CAME TO A SERIES OF AGREEMENTS WITH THE MAYOR OF OFAKIM WHICH REGULARIZED THE ACTIVITY OF THE INITIATIVE - TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENTIAL QUARTER WHICH WILL INCLUDE COMMERCE AND EMPLOYMENT ADJACENT TO THE TRAIN STATION CURRENTLY BEING BUILT IN THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF THE CITY.
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THESE UNDERSTANDINGS, IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE MUNICIPALITY OF OFAKIM WILL ASSIST THE INITIATIVE TO REALIZE THE BUILDING OF A NEW SETTLEMENT OF SOME 1,100 UNITS AND WILL CALL IT THE "NOAH QUARTER". THESE AGREEMENTS RECEIVED SPECIAL VALIDATION WHEN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND ITS HEAD MINISTER URI URIEL, AGREED TO STAND BY THE MOVEMENT AND FREQUENTLY SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROCESS.
EMPLOYMENT
THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE QUARTER'S RESIDENTS WILL BE BASED INITIALLY ON COMMUTING TO THE CENTER AND TO BE'ER SHEVA. THE PROJECT WILL ENJOY A VAST AMOUNT OF COMPENSATIONS IN THE NEGEV REGION INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BAHADIM CITY IN THE SOUTH OF ISRAEL AS WELL AS THE NEW HI-TECH QUARTER IN BE'ER-SHEVA.
A TECHNOLOGICAL INCUBATOR
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT, AND IN COOPERATION WITH THE MUNICIPALITY OF OFAKIM, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE "NOAH ACCELERATOR" IS BEING PLANNED. IT WILL SERVE AS A UNIQUE TECHNOLOGICAL INCUBATOR, WHICH WILL PUT AN EMPHASIS ON GREEN TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING AGRICULTURE, WATER AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE INITIATIVE HAS REACHED A FEW AGREEMENTS WITH THE VIOLA GROUP, THE ZION-TECH FUND, THE TRENDLINES GROUP, AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF OFAKIM.
EDUCATION
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE QUARTER, A NEW LEADING ELEMTARY SCHOOL IS PLANNED, AS WELL AS A LEADING UNIVERSITY BRANCH.
URBAN STRUCTURE
ELROD ARCHITECTS ARE THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE IN CHARGE OF THE URBAN PLANNING OF THE NOAH QUARTER. THE SITE INCLUDES 1,100 PLANNED RESIDENTIAL UNITS, WHICH SERVES AS 12.5% OF THE UNITS. IN THE QUARTER THERE WILL BE A VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES COMPRISED OF 774 APARTMENTS AND 330 HOUSES.
EXECUTION
THE NOAH INITIATIVE ADMINISTRATION HAS REACHED A SERIES OF INITIAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE LARGEST REAL-ESTATE COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY WHICH HAVE PROVIDED GENERAL PRICE PROPOSALS INCLUDING APARTMENT PRICING, SIZING, AND SPECS. THE COMPANIES HAVE OFFERED TO SELL A RANGE OF 3, 4 AND 5 ROOM APARTMENTS AT THE AVERAGE PRICE OF 650,000 SHEKELS PER UNIT.
TRANSPORTATION
THE TRANSPORTATION TO THE QUARTER WILL BE BASED ON A TRAIN STATION CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WILL BE SITUATED ADJACENT TO THE QUARTER. THE DISTANCE TO TEL-AVIV BY TRAIN: 60 MINUTES, AND TO BE'ER SHEVE: 15 MINUTES.
