Sirkin Military Base Transforms Into 13,000-Unit Petah Tikva District
The former Sirkin military base in Petah Tikva is being transformed into a 13,000-unit residential neighborhood, preserving military heritage sites and converting its control tower into a café.
The historic Sirkin military base in Petah Tikva, once home to elite units including the IDF General Staff reconnaissance unit Sayeret Matkal, is being transformed into a massive residential neighborhood featuring some 13,000 housing units.
Heritage and Urban Renewal
Petah Tikva municipality announced that the new Tmeret neighborhood will preserve 29 historical structures from the former base, establishing at least ten heritage sites dedicated to Sayeret Matkal, the Oketz canine unit, and the Yahalom combat engineering unit. Plans also include commercial spaces, employment hubs, parks, and two future metro stations. As part of the project, the base's old military control tower is slated to be converted into a two-story café at the heart of the new district.
Originally established in 1941 as a British military airfield, Sirkin came under Jewish control in 1948 and subsequently served the Israeli Air Force, flight and officer training schools, and intelligence units, cementing its status as one of the IDF's most iconic secret facilities.
Real Estate Market and Prices
Real estate development is already underway, with Eshkol launching sales for a residential project in Tmeret comprising two buildings with apartments ranging from three to six rooms. According to company disclosures, promotional prices start at 29,900 shekels per square meter, though this reflects initial pricing rather than a definitive average for the entire neighborhood.
While studies at the Technion regarding historic preservation in Tel Aviv suggest that successful preservation can correlate with property price premiums, analysts note that the ultimate value of Sirkin apartments will depend heavily on regional infrastructure, transportation, and market demand.
Environmental Assessments
Alongside the real estate potential, environmental evaluations are ongoing. Official state land remediation data indicates that PFAS compounds have been detected in groundwater at the Sirkin site, prompting further soil and water investigations. While certain PFAS substances carry health risks upon significant exposure, state reports and municipal authorities emphasize that areas designated for immediate construction have been thoroughly tested, treated where necessary, and cleared for development, with supplementary monitoring programs underway.
