Bat Yam Reconstruction Stalled by Underground Parking Plan

The rehabilitation of 21 buildings in Bat Yam, damaged during wartime, is being halted due to a sudden government demand to construct an underground parking lot near the affected structures. A government discussion regarding the designation of these damaged areas as rehabilitation zones under the War Damage Rehabilitation Law was suspended last week. If a decision is not reached by Sunday, Bat Yam will lose its eligibility for this expedited urban renewal process.

The law, enacted this year, aims to speed up the rebuilding of war-damaged areas through urban renewal, balancing public interest with private property rights. Under the law, the government can declare specific areas as rehabilitation zones, allowing for faster planning and developer selection. A government advisory team, led by the Planning Administration, has reviewed nine areas nationwide, including Bat Yam, and has made recommendations. While nine other areas have already been approved for rehabilitation, Bat Yam's designation is delayed.

Bat Yam, which suffered significant damage on June 15 of last year when a missile hit 21 homes and displaced hundreds, is experiencing delays. The advisory team's recommendation was made two months ago, but Housing Minister Haim Regev only brought it to the government for approval last week. Instead of fast-tracking rehabilitation, the Ministry of Transportation has proposed building a NIS 135 million underground parking facility, a plan opposed by the Treasury, which led to the suspension of the rehabilitation discussion.

Sources suggest that Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot is behind the delays, though the mayor's office denies knowledge of this. The current law expires on Sunday. If the government fails to approve Bat Yam's designation as a rehabilitation zone by then, the rebuilding process will revert to a slower, individual urban renewal project approach.