Thousands of New Housing Units Approved Across Israel

Israel is advancing plans for approximately 9,400 new housing units through urban renewal and construction projects nationwide. Key decisions this week include the promotion of plans in Givatayim, the approval of two "pinui-binui" (demolish and rebuild) complexes in Ramat Gan, and urban renewal in Eilat.

In Givatayim, three urban renewal plans are moving forward, totaling around 2,500 apartments. Two of these are along Katzenelson Street, near the planned metro line and the Malben station. The largest plan, Katzenelson Center, covers about 56 dunams, involving the demolition of 470 apartments and the construction of 1,300 new ones, along with commercial space and public facilities. Another plan, initiated by Ashley Liran Group, involves demolishing 230 apartments for 600 new ones and expanding a local park. A third plan in the Herzog neighborhood will add hundreds of apartments. The city stipulated that building permits for projects along the metro line will be contingent on the line's operation.

Ramat Gan's district planning committee approved two urban renewal projects that will replace 144 existing apartments with 480 new ones. In the Ramat Shachma neighborhood, a plan at 20-30 Shelem Street will see 103 apartments demolished for 350 new ones in a tower up to 38 stories, including commercial and public areas. Another plan in the HaGafen neighborhood will replace 41 apartments with a 36-story tower containing 130 units, commercial space, and a public plaza.

In Eilat, the Southern District Planning Committee is advancing a plan for the Kadesh complex in the Ha'arava neighborhood, which will demolish 162 apartments and build 487 new ones in buildings ranging from 5 to 29 stories, alongside commercial and public spaces. This is Eilat's fifth urban renewal plan in the past year. In Dimona, the Ministry of Construction and Housing received approval for the Narcissus Quarter, which will include about 1,060 apartments, a 250-room hotel, and commercial and public facilities.

Further north, the Tel Aviv District Committee approved a plan for the Chalmit complex in Bat Yam, set to replace 480 apartments with 1,880 new units in towers up to 42 stories. Approximately 660 of these will be smaller units, and the plan includes significant commercial and public space. The complex is located near a light rail station and a future metro station, leading to a reduced parking standard. In Ashdod, the Southern District Committee approved a plan for the Ga'afonov complex, replacing 168 apartments with 700 new units in buildings up to 31 stories, along with commercial, employment, and public areas.

Finally, the Northern District Committee recommended the approval of a plan for a new neighborhood on Acre's northern coast, comprising approximately 2,322 apartments. This plan includes buildings up to 25 stories, commercial and hotel spaces, and a large coastal park. It also involves relocating the Mazor hospital, with its 300 patients moving to hospitals in Nahariya and Poriya. This relocation has been planned for over 20 years.