Changes threaten Jerusalem's German Colony

At the entrance of Jerusalem's German Colony neighborhood (corner of Emek Refaim and Bethlehem Road) stand two buildings that reflect the architectural character of the neighborhood which was established by the German Templars during the nineteenth century. The church and associated adjacent building are threatened by developers who think we need yet another luxury building at the expense of eviscerating the historical integrity of the Templers' German Colony district. Many neighborhood residents have organized to oppose the replacement of these structures.


The following is excerpted from:
http://www.armtown.com/news/en/htq/20100401/201004011/

"In his book about the German Colony, Jerusalem architect and historian David Kroyanker says that the community used the building for weddings, funerals, prayer services and political gatherings. The Palestine branch of the Nazi Party held its meetings there.

During World War II, the British Mandate government expelled the Templers as enemy aliens. After the war, with East Jerusalem cut off from West Jerusalem, the small Armenian community was left without a place of prayer, and in response to a request by the Armenian patriarch, Israel gave him the small German community center as their church. The caretaker's home was given to Anahid's parents, who had to leave their home in Baka during the fighting, and the couple because the church caretakers.

Since then, time seems to have stood still in the complex. Ohannessian lives in the house by herself with two dogs and a cat. Although the spot is one of the busiest intersections in the capital, there is not a neighbor for hundreds of meters around.

Ohannessian lived peacefully in the house until, a few years ago, she found out the building and land had been bought by a real estate developer, who plans to put up an eight-story hotel on the site."