Givatayim Advances Urban Renewal Plans for 2,500 New Housing Units
Givatayim is promoting three urban renewal projects to add 2,500 housing units, commercial spaces, and schools. Building permits along the planned metro corridor are strictly conditioned on the metro's operation.
Givatayim is advancing three major urban renewal projects that will add approximately 2,500 housing units to the city, alongside commercial and employment spaces, educational institutions, and open public areas. Two of the plans have been recommended for transfer to the District Planning Committee, while a third requires further adjustments.
A central focus of the initiative is Katznelson Street, one of the city's main thoroughfares, located near the planned metro route. Two plans in this area involve the demolition of existing residential buildings and the construction of new complexes. Crucially, the municipality has set a strict condition: building permits for projects along the Katznelson metro corridor will be conditional on the commencement of the metro line's operation.
The Katznelson Center plan spans approximately 56 dunams between Kikar Naḥ, Gan HaZikaron, and Ken Borochov. It proposes the demolition of about 470 existing housing units and the construction of roughly 1,300 new apartments, resulting in a net addition of about 830 units. The project also includes 10,000 square meters of commercial and employment space, as well as 11 dunams allocated for public needs, including a school, kindergartens, and day-care centers.
A second plan in the area proposes the demolition of some 230 apartments and the construction of about 600 new units, alongside 20,000 square meters of commercial and employment space. This plan also features the expansion of Gan HaZikaron toward Weizmann Street by five dunams, the preservation of local historic buildings, and the allocation of public areas. The Local Planning Committee approved its continued advancement, pending further revisions.
The third plan focuses on the Herzog neighborhood in southern Givatayim. Unlike the Katznelson corridor initiatives, this plan is divided into ten separate implementation complexes, allowing each to progress independently. It includes provisions for expanding the Leah Goldberg elementary school, building a new elementary school in the neighborhood, and adding open public spaces and commercial areas.
Givatayim Mayor Ran Kunik emphasized the direct link between housing growth and future transport infrastructure. City Engineer Sagi Tamari noted that advancing these comprehensive plans enables the allocation of new public spaces and the adaptation of infrastructure to the expected population growth.
