Tel Aviv Dizengoff Square Redevelopment Plan Approved in Principle
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
The Tel Aviv District Appeals Committee for Planning and Construction has granted preliminary approval for a plan to demolish Dizengoff Square and build towers, mandating a further 4,000 square meter reduction in building area. The decision requires significant revisions to ensure public access and open spaces, with one tower designated for residences and another for hotels. This approval is a step forward in a long-standing effort to redevelop the deteriorated square, though disputes over building rights allocation persist.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square redevelopment plan approved in principle by appeals committee.
- Committee mandates further 4,000 sqm building area reduction and public space enhancements.
- One tower designated for residences, the other for hotel use, with unified hotel ownership.
- Plan aims to reconnect Ben Gurion Boulevard to the sea and create new public plazas.
- Long-standing opposition from residents and environmental groups over building scale and public access.
- Disputes among rights holders over building rights allocation remain unresolved.
The Tel Aviv District Appeals Committee for Planning and Construction, chaired by Adv. Michal Dagani Halbershtam, has given its preliminary approval to a plan to demolish Dizengoff Square and replace it with towers. The committee mandated a further reduction of 4,000 square meters of main building areas and required changes to ensure public use of the complex. The plan, which involves demolishing the elevated square and the Marina Hotel, aims to reconnect Ben Gurion Boulevard to the sea, create an urban plaza, and a park descending to the promenade. It includes two towers up to 25 stories, a six-story building, approximately 220 apartments, and at least 300 hotel rooms, alongside commercial and public spaces.
This latest cutback follows a previous 4,000 square meter reduction approved by the Local Committee in November 2024. The Appeals Committee also stipulated that one tower must be designated for residential use and the other for hotel use, with no apartment occupancy permits to be issued before the hotel tower receives its permit. The ownership of hotel units and operational areas must remain unified and permanently registered to prevent division.
The long-standing battle over Dizengoff Square, originally built in the 1970s as a commercial and tourist hub, has seen the area deteriorate over the years, suffering from functional and transportation failures, abandoned commercial spaces, and a disconnect between the city and the beach. Opponents, including the "No to Towers in Dizengoff Square" association and residents, have raised concerns about open space, sea views, and residential integration on the coastline.
The committee also mandated an additional 900 square meters of open public space and a mechanism to ensure private open areas are contiguous with urban public space. It increased required distances between the new towers and adjacent hotels, Carlton and Herods, and demanded plans to mitigate construction disruptions and ensure access. A dispute among rights holders, including parking lot owners and Airport City, regarding the division of building rights and compensation remains unresolved and will proceed to further discussion.
Adv. Noam Kolodni, representing the "No to Towers in Dizengoff Square" association, called the decision a victory for the public and for preserving Tel Aviv's coastline, emphasizing that urban renewal must ensure accessible public space. The developers must submit revised plans within 60 days, followed by further discussions on valuation and allocation issues.
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