Just when the fascinating history of Tel Aviv’s 19th century Templar neighborhood of Sarona is being related and its tourist potential is becoming apparent, one of the buildings has been demolished. This month, the Tel Aviv municipality legally implemented an old plan to demolish the Koutine House at 23 David Elazar St. for the construction of road tunnel to the Kirya project. The adjacent historic building was also demolished.
Koutine House was one of the first structures built by the Templars in the area and was part of the winery. When the British conquered Tel Aviv from the Ottomans in 1917 during the First World War, they expelled the Templars from the country, and the building was leased to the winery’s employees. The property was bought by Dr. Elias Edwin Koutine in 1938 for his residence and clinic.
In 1948, Beit Koutine was the first headquarters of the Israel Air Force.
Society for the Preservation of Historical Sites central district director Tamar Tuchler said, “Beit Koutine was slated for preservation, and only a unilateral act by Tel Aviv municipal engineer Danny Kaizer was it removed from the list of buildings to be preserved. Had the building been renovated, it would have had immense value, given its history as the place where the Air Force was founded.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 13, 2007
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