Herzliya Approves Major Urban Renewal Project Tied to Metro Completion

Herzliya's planning and building committee has conditionally approved a large-scale urban renewal plan for the Ben-Gurion complex in the southern-central part of the city. The plan, which is one of the most ambitious in the Sharon region, aims to construct approximately 1,339 new apartments around the future "Ben-Gurion" metro station. The project spans about 90 dunams and is being advanced by the government company "Dira Le'Haskir." The local committee, which has special independent authority, can approve such extensive plans without referral to the district committee. Under the plan, 368 old apartments will be demolished and replaced by 1,339 new housing units, including 120 designated for long-term rental. The new neighborhood is designed with seven sections, featuring towers up to 25 stories near the planned metro station, mixed-use areas for commerce and employment, public buildings, and a central plaza. Green corridors are planned to connect the sections and improve pedestrian access, alongside infrastructure upgrades and potential expansion of the "Lev Tov" elementary school and other public institutions.

However, the project's realization is contingent on significant transportation infrastructure development. The first phase, allowing permits for 310 apartments and commercial spaces, requires connection to Jerusalem Road via Amnon Lipkin-Shachak Road. The second phase, enabling up to 580 apartments, depends on the commencement of metro construction, the "Fast to the City" initiative on the central axis, or the opening of a interchange at Rav Makor and a bridge to the Ayalon highway. The third phase, for 581 to 810 apartments, necessitates additional public transport solutions like full operation of a BRT line or substantial bus service reinforcement. The final phase, allowing the full 1,339 apartments, is conditional on the actual operation of the "Ben-Gurion" metro station. This means most apartments will not be built until the metro is operational, a prospect still distant. The Ben-Gurion complex plan exemplifies a national trend in housing development: significant densification around future transport hubs, with construction pace directly linked to transport progress. This model is being replicated in numerous urban renewal projects across Israel.