Major Urban Renewal Project Approved for Border Town Shlomi Amid Security Challenges
Despite ongoing security tensions in northern Israel, planning committees are advancing large-scale construction projects in communities affected by conflict to support rehabilitation efforts. One of the most significant urban renewal plans at the northern border has now been approved. The Northern District Planning and Building Committee unanimously dismissed objections and ratified a massive redevelopment plan for the town of Shlomi, located along the frontline.
The plan covers an 18-dunam area in central Shlomi currently occupied by 12 aging housing blocks with 174 units lacking proper bomb shelters. The redevelopment will replace these with a new residential district featuring approximately 850 housing units, including about 20% smaller apartments, plus potential for an additional 82 units. Buildings will rise up to 10 stories with a density of roughly 38 units per dunam. The project also includes 1,800 square meters of commercial and employment space on ground floors to activate Ben Gurion Street as a vibrant urban axis, alongside public open spaces and community facilities such as daycares, kindergartens, and synagogues.
The plan, designed by architect Ari Cohen-Michael Wind, was submitted for deposit in March 2026 after initial approval in May 2025. It is the first of several urban renewal projects in Shlomi’s older neighborhood and the first of its kind in the Western Galilee local council. Dekel Adi Peretz, the Northern District planner, emphasized the plan’s vital inclusion of bomb shelters and reinforced rooms for residents living on the frontline. She highlighted the comprehensive urban framework addressing community, educational, and religious needs, improved accessibility, road networks, and efficient use of local topography.
Boaz Yosef, chair of the Northern District committee, called the plan a "real breakthrough" for Shlomi residents, noting the new apartments will be modern and equipped with large reinforced rooms for extended sheltering. Guri Nadler, head of planning at the Government Authority for Urban Renewal, said this is the first of four renewal projects in Shlomi’s old neighborhood supported by the authority. Many current residents have already signed with developers, and the project benefits from a government grant to facilitate implementation.
This approval marks a significant step in strengthening and rehabilitating a community on Israel’s northern border amid ongoing security challenges, providing safer, modern housing and revitalizing the urban environment.
