Urban Renewal Plans Approved for New Housing in Herzliya, Haifa, Sderot, and Eilat

The Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Commission has given final approval to an urban renewal plan for Sokolov Street in Herzliya. The project at Sokolov 25-27 will see the construction of a 20-story mixed-use tower with 140 housing units, alongside commercial, employment, and public spaces. The historic "Tankus House" will be preserved and adapted for commercial and employment use. The existing 13 housing units in the complex will be demolished. The new tower will feature two base floors for commerce and public/employment use, with approximately 1,300 square meters allocated for commerce, 700 for employment, and 500 for public space. Twenty percent of the new apartments will be small (30-65 sqm), and 25% will be up to 80 sqm, with up to 10% potentially including accessory dwelling units. A new pedestrian passage will be created between Sokolov and HaRishonim streets, and underground parking will be accessible from HaRishonim.

In Haifa, the Northern District Planning and Building Commission approved a plan for the Brenner Street 20-30 complex in the Ramot Remez neighborhood. This plan involves demolishing 24 existing apartments in two buildings to construct a 28-story tower and a 10-story building, totaling 182 new housing units. The 4-dunam project will also include commercial and public spaces and aims to revitalize the area as part of a strategic plan for the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood.

In Sderot, the Southern District Planning and Building Commission approved a plan for the Palmach complex, marking a significant step in the renewal of the city's old quarter. The plan encompasses 515 housing units in 10 buildings, approximately 1,800 square meters of commercial space, public buildings, employment areas, and open public spaces. This project will replace 3 old buildings with 139 housing units. A central public "heart space" is planned, built over a covered parking lot, connecting to the ground level and utilizing the area's natural elevation differences. The plan allocates about 2.5 dunams for public needs, including a kindergarten and a general municipal facility.

Additionally, the Southern District Commission gave final approval to the Tamar complex in the Dekel neighborhood of Eilat. This plan will replace 208 existing housing units with 474 new ones, including a mix of low-rise buildings, 7- and 10-story structures, and two residential towers of 25 and 27 stories. The project also includes commercial spaces, public buildings, and open public areas, along with road upgrades and an active facade along Tamar Boulevard. This initiative is part of a broader urban renewal effort in Eilat, focusing on seismic safety and improving the urban fabric.