First Redevelopment Project Begins in Pardes Hanna-Karkur

Pardes Hanna-Karkur has commenced its first urban renewal project, known as "Pinaat HaMoshava," located on HaTzfirah Street. Three older residential buildings, containing a total of 36 apartments, were demolished on Sunday to make way for four new buildings that will house 80 apartments. This marks a significant step for the community, which is in the earlier stages of urban renewal compared to central Israeli cities, moving from planning to actual construction.

The developer, Shi Hai, expects the project to take approximately two years to complete. The original residents will receive new apartments with added space, a safe room (Mamad), a sun balcony, storage, and parking. The remaining 44 apartments will be sold on the open market, with prices starting around 2.6 million shekels for five-room apartments, garden apartments, and penthouses. This pricing positions the project at the higher end of the local market for new, larger homes.

This redevelopment initiative is part of a broader plan for Pardes Hanna-Karkur, which includes a previously completed phase of 70 apartments in the Omerim neighborhood. The local council has established a dedicated urban renewal administration, with government support, to advance additional projects throughout the town. The goal is to increase housing supply while simultaneously reinforcing existing structures, enhancing security, and upgrading infrastructure.

For the residents of HaTzfirah Street, the process from initial planning to demolition spanned about eight years. The old buildings were over fifty years old, and many apartments lacked modern amenities like safe rooms, elevators, or private parking. The next challenge for the town will be expanding urban renewal to more areas while ensuring that infrastructure, including roads, education, public spaces, and city services, keeps pace with the addition of hundreds of new housing units.