Northern Israel Approves Thousands of New Housing Units in Nazareth and Other Cities

The Northern District Planning and Building Committee approved a major new residential development plan in Nazareth on Sunday, marking the first large-scale housing project in years for the Arab city. The "Salesian Lands" neighborhood will include 2,150 new housing units in buildings ranging from three to sixteen stories, significantly increasing the current approved housing stock of 345 units. The plan, submitted by Nazareth municipality and developer Aslan Madian and designed by architect Samir Saad, aims to address the city’s housing shortage by extending urban development from the Galilee neighborhood to the old city center. It also includes a four-story commercial and employment building near the northern entrance, a private college to the north, public spaces, and new roads.

In Carmiel, a master plan for the renewal of the Founders neighborhood was approved for deposit, proposing about 4,260 housing units alongside commercial, employment, tourism areas, and 40 dunams of open space. The plan, covering 239 dunams and designed by Lerman Ben Shoshan Architects, will accommodate approximately 10,000 new residents and preserve the neighborhood’s historic patio houses. Building heights will vary from up to 25 stories on main streets to nine stories on inner streets, with 1,278 units designated as small apartments.

The committee also approved an expansion of the West Tzvaim Industrial Park in the Emek Maayanot region, adding 214 dunams for industrial use and 238,000 square meters of new construction. In Safed, a 23-dunam plan for the "KG Complex" in the old city was approved, including 36 residential units, 15 guest units, 10 student units, and over 75 hotel units, all designed to respect the area's historic and cultural character.

In Hadera, the committee deposited a plan for the "Complex 13" neighborhood, covering 310 dunams and proposing 3,000 housing units in buildings of 8 to 16 stories, along with commercial, public buildings, and a neighborhood park. Meanwhile, in the Tel Aviv district, the committee approved a master plan for the Galil Yam kibbutz near Herzliya, adding 160 new housing units to the existing 190, including 70 small apartments, and preserving nine historic buildings. The plan emphasizes restoring the Galilot stream and creating public green spaces and walking and biking paths.

These approvals reflect a broad effort to address housing shortages and urban renewal across northern Israel, balancing development with preservation of historical and environmental assets.