Bat Yam Completes War Damage Rehabilitation List With 2,470 New Homes
The Israeli government has approved the final two urban renewal complexes in Bat Yam under the War Damage Rehabilitation Law, over a year after a missile strike hit the city. The approvals, made on the last possible day under the law, bring the total number of approved complexes to nine across eight cities. These projects will see 901 existing apartments demolished and 2,470 new ones built.
The missile attack occurred on June 15, damaging buildings and causing widespread destruction within a 200-meter radius. The two approved Bat Yam sub-complexes, Jerusalem A and Jerusalem B, encompass 24 buildings with approximately 424 existing housing units. Jerusalem A includes 10 buildings, four of which are marked for demolition, while Jerusalem B includes 14 buildings, seven slated for demolition.
The designation allows for accelerated urban renewal, bypassing typical bureaucratic hurdles. The law shortens timelines, lowers the required resident consent threshold, and offers a "buy-out" option for homeowners to receive financial compensation and exit the project. An inter-ministerial advisory team, led by the Planning Administration and including the Government Urban Renewal Authority, the Government Appraiser, and the Justice and Finance Ministries, recommended the complexes for the expedited process.
Most complexes were declared in late June and early July, with the Bat Yam complexes facing a delay. This delay was reportedly due to the Bat Yam mayor's unsuccessful demand for a parking facility costing over 100 million shekels. The approved projects across Israel include sites in Dimona, Arad, Rehovot, Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Haifa, and Bat Yam, with varying numbers of units to be demolished and rebuilt.
