The fence’s days are over at last

The old wooden fence on ul. Miodowa, which has been immortalized in “Schindler’s List” and other films, is a perfect drop to a scene about World War II.But in the 21st Century it’s a tacky disgrace. So it’s coming down. The structure, covered with posters and advertisements, some tattered and rain-battered, surrounds a five-hectare area  near Remuh Synogogue that belongs to Liwa Holding. The Likus brothers’ company is famous for giving old structures a second life ? as they did when they renovated the Stary, Pod Roza and Copernicus hotels. The brothers plan to build an apartment complex in the area the fence surrounds, probably with shopping and exhibition space on the ground floor. “The plans are not clear yet,” said Monika Capinska of Liwa Holding.The parcel has been empty for years. The Nissenbaum Family Foundation knocked down three dilapidated houses on it, planning to built a Jewish cultural center. It put the fence up until construction could begin.But the project was never realized. And in 2004 the foundation sold the land to Liwa Holding.Because the parcel adjoins a Jewish cemetery, the Likuses had discussions with Jewish leaders about the project.The leaders asked that the complex contain no windows facing the cemetery. They also asked that the project contain no features ? such as a children’s playground ? that might disturb Jews praying at the grave of the famed Rabbi Moshe Isserles. The Likuses agreed.  As part of the project, Liwa Holding also agreed to rebuild a cemetery wall and put a concrete foundation beneath it. “Presently we are almost done with the cemetery wall, which had to be dismantled, brick by brick and stone by stone, cleaned and put back together,” Capinska said.Shortly after Liwa began working on the project three years ago, archaelogical discoveries were made at the site. That led to archaeologists coming in and combing through it. Their work is finally over.To keep someone from falling in the pit the archaeologists left, the fence cannot be dismantled for now, Capinska said. But the end is in sight.”As soon as we start building the ground floor, we will have to remove it, because the area is small and plans assume that the buiding will almost reach the pavement,” Capinska said. So ‘in a couple of months the fence should disappear.”