2,850 New Apartments Approved in Three Israeli Cities
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israel advanced plans for approximately 2,850 new apartments across three cities this week, with major projects approved in Bat Yam and Ramat Gan, and another slated for Eilat. These developments aim to significantly increase housing stock while incorporating commercial spaces and public amenities. In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court delayed by one year the implementation of a new safety regulation for construction sites, a decision met with mixed reactions regarding worker safety and industry capacity.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Plans for 2,850 new apartments were approved in Bat Yam, Ramat Gan, and Eilat.
- Bat Yam's Halmit complex will see 1,880 new apartments replacing 480 existing units.
- Ramat Gan projects will add 480 apartments, replacing 144 existing units.
- Eilat's Qadesh complex plan includes 487 apartments, an increase of 325 units.
- The Supreme Court delayed a new construction site safety regulation by one year.
- The safety regulation requires assistants on sites with 50 or more workers.
Three urban renewal projects, collectively adding approximately 2,850 new apartments, received advancement this week in Israel. Plans were approved for two projects in Bat Yam and Ramat Gan, while a third project in Eilat was slated for deposit. These four projects will replace 786 existing units with the new construction, an increase of about 2,060 homes. Commercial spaces, public buildings, and open areas are also planned.
The largest project is in Bat Yam's Halmit complex, slated to include around 1,880 apartments. This plan involves demolishing 480 existing units and constructing up to 42-story towers. Approximately 540 of the new units will be in buildings up to ten stories high, designed to accommodate current residents in lower-rise structures. The plan also allocates over 17,300 square meters for commerce and employment, public buildings, and a new plaza. The complex is located near a major transit line and a future metro station, with a parking ratio of up to 0.7 spaces per unit.
In Ramat Gan, two plans were approved, totaling 480 apartments to replace 144 existing ones. One project in the HaGafen neighborhood will see four buildings with 41 units demolished and replaced by a 36-story tower with 130 apartments and ground-floor retail. The second Ramat Gan project, in the Ramat Hashikma neighborhood, involves demolishing six buildings with 103 units to construct 350 apartments, including a tower up to 38 stories high, subject to aviation authority restrictions. This project also includes about 1,750 square meters for commerce and dedicates approximately 6.4 acres to public buildings.
In Eilat, a plan for the Qadesh complex in the Ha'arava neighborhood was approved for deposit. This project, covering about 27 acres, will replace 162 existing units with 487 new apartments, an increase of 325 units. The plan features buildings ranging from five to nine stories, alongside two towers of 25 and 29 stories, surrounding a public open space. Commercial areas, public buildings, and improved pedestrian paths are also included. The renewal in Eilat aims to upgrade structures to meet current seismic and protection requirements, given the city's location in an earthquake-prone zone.
Separately, the Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, postponed by one year the enforcement of a regulation requiring safety assistants on construction sites with 50 or more workers. The new rule, originally set to take effect in October 2027, was challenged by the Contractors Association. The court's decision, while not fully rejecting the petition, granted a delay, acknowledging the significant shortage of qualified safety supervisors in the construction industry. Critics argue the delay may compromise worker safety, while proponents highlight the practical challenges of immediate implementation.
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