Gov't approves building 800 apartments with safe rooms in Ashkelon

The National Committee for the Planning and Construction of Preferred Housing Areas (Vatmal) has approved a plan for urban renewal in Ashkelon's "Oley Hagardom" complex. Led by Rabbi Natan El-Natan, the committee aims to promote urban renewal projects across the country, particularly in cities near the state's border. 

The plan covers an area of approximately 4.4 hectares (11 acres) and is situated near the southern entrance to the city, between Shapira Boulevard and Oley Hagardom Street. Developed by the Municipality of Ashkelon and the company "Penina A.L.H.," the plan includes the construction of 792 housing units across eight residential buildings ranging from 6 to 23 floors. The buildings will also feature parking lots and underground parking facilities. 

Out of the total housing units, 238 will be allocated to small apartments of up to 80 square meters, catering to the demand for smaller housing in the southern part of the city and promoting housing diversity. In addition to the housing units, the plan incorporates the construction of new streets, public institutions, and a large park that connects to main streets and the beach. 

The plan also includes commercial facades on the ground floor of the residential buildings to enhance the neighborhood's urban atmosphere.

Safe Urban Renewal

This initiative is part of a pilot program by the Governmental Authority for Urban Renewal, which provides additional funding for building evacuation plans to expedite the realization process in peripheral areas. 

El-Natan, head of Vatmal and of the National Planning Directorate, stated that "We are making an effort, especially in these days, to approve another urban renewal plan in Ashkelon, the third of its kind, which will enable the replacement of 160 apartments without any protection for 792 new apartments, including safe rooms. The Vatmal has set itself the goal of promoting urban renewal plans in full force in areas most exposed to security threats and earthquake risks."

This plan is in addition to two other massive urban renewal plans approved by the Vatmal in Ashkelon's southeast region: "Binyamin Complex" in the Giv'at Haprahim (Flower Hill) neighborhood, which includes 927 housing units, and the "Ehud-Hatichya Complex" located in the Giv'at Tzion (Zion Hill) neighborhood, which includes 1,035 housing units.

The plan was executed by the architectural firm Giora Gur and Associates.