Tel Aviv Approves Plan for 14,000 New Apartments in City Center

The Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Commission has approved a major urban renewal plan for city center neighborhoods 5 and 6, paving the way for approximately 14,000 new housing units. The plan also includes renovating existing buildings, improving their protection, and strengthening them against earthquakes. The development rights are expected to be realized over several years as individual projects progress.

The plan covers about 1,700 dunams (approximately 420 acres) bordered by Bograshov and Shaul Hamelech streets to the north, Yitzhak Elhanan to the south, Hayarkon to the west, and Menachem Begin and Shprintzak to the east. This initiative follows similar approved plans for districts 3 and 4, expanding renewal possibilities in another significant part of central Tel Aviv.

Developers can renew buildings on a plot-by-plot basis, either by reinforcing and adding to existing structures or by demolishing and rebuilding. Building rights will be determined by plot size, number of floors, and building lines, with heights ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 stories, depending on the area's characteristics. Much of the plan area is within the "White City," a UNESCO World Heritage site, necessitating construction that preserves the existing building volumes, plot divisions, and architectural character.

Buildings designated for preservation are excluded from the plan, requiring individual planning assessments. For the first time in this area, the plan mandates the allocation of built spaces for public needs on new construction plots larger than 700 square meters. These spaces will be used for daycare centers, kindergartens, and cultural and community facilities, aiming to serve new residents and integrate public uses into residential buildings.

The plan considers existing and future public transportation, including the Red Line of the light rail, the Green and Purple lines, and three future metro stations. It aligns with National Outline Plan 70, preserves the existing street network, pedestrian accessibility, and mixed-use zoning in the city center. The commission noted the plan's rapid approval within 11 months of submission.

Shira Talmi Babai, Chairwoman of the District Commission, stated the plan's swift advancement was intended to create certainty and encourage building renewal for protection and reinforcement, especially given the ongoing emergency. Tel Aviv District Planner Erez Ben Eliezer added that the plan promotes a diverse housing mix, strengthens existing street-level commerce, and adds active street frontages. The plan was submitted by the Tel Aviv-Yafo Local Planning and Building Commission and prepared by City Engineer Udi Carmeli.