Dan Center

dancenter The Dan Center is located in Bnei Brak, a Tel Aviv suburb which is predominantly inhabited by ultra-orthodox jews. It is intendended as a combined business/commercial and residential building.

It was originally designed to be 48 storeys tall. Already in the early stages of construction, the developers ran into financial difficulties, suppliers were not paid, and the construction was suspended. The developers and the financial backers have reached a settlement and the construction is expected to be resumed soon.

An interesting anecdote:
According to recent estimates, a 43-storey office tower will be build on top of the commercial center, rather than a residential tower as originally planned. The major reason for this is the Bnei Brak municipality's opposition to the installation of elevators that will be automatically operated on the Sabbath. (Globes, 22/09/99)
Update 25.06.2001: The financiers of the project (Discount Bank) have decided to consolidate assets and offer the project for sale. The developers are in financial trouble and can not continue construction. So far, the skeleton of the two-storey commercial center and four-storey office building have been completed. (Haaretz 25.06.2001)