This page was last updated August 23^rd, 2001.

Haaretz; August 18, 2001 Construction of 21-storey building approved ...

The local committee for planning and construction in Tel Aviv has approved a plan by several private entrepreneurs to construct an office tower of 21-storeys above a 5 storey high entrance. The tower will be built on the corners of the streets Rothschild, Hertzel, and Lillenblum. According to the consturction plan, the tower will be place in the center of an area with five old building designated for restoration. This project is considered unique, and first of its kind. Each restorated building will include and element representing its history. The project was designed by the Yasky architectural office.

See photo of model
 

Haaretz; July 08, 2001 Phoenix will resume construction project ...

The Phoenix insurance company will build a 28-30 storey tower on Rothschild boulevard instead of the 35-storey tower originally planned. Work has already resumed on the basement construction after it was suspended in the beginning of the year due to concerns that the tower, because of its height, may disturb a nearby security installation. Construction of the basement will be completed within 8 months. The project, to be called "Rothschild 1" consists of commercial, office, and residential storeys. The project has been design by the architect firm Buchman & Goldenberg.
 

Globes; June 24, 2001 Who will build in Tel Aviv? ...

The Tel Aviv municipality and town planning and building authorities made three decisions last week, intended to change the face of the city's commercial and real estate sectors. The decisions relate to four compounds in the center and eastern part of the city, with a combined area of 370 dunam (94.5 acres). The decisions will allow the construction of 900,000 sq.m. of office, commercial, and high-tech space, plus 2,075 luxury apartments on the sites:

• Rules will be set to calculate rents for four sub-compounds with a total area of 260 dunam (65 acres) on Yigal Allon Road. Scores of property owners leased plots from the municipality in 1950, in leases that expire in 2010. Until now, it was not known if the municipality would extend the leases, and how much money it would demand. Sunday's decision finally and officially made it clear that the municipality is prepared to extend the leases until 2059, on easy terms.
  Discounts of up to 33% will given for plots for 300% building rights, allowing the construction of up to 780,000 sq.m. The rate of construction is unknown, partly due to the current weakness in the office and high-tech markets. However, the municipality will probably approve 400% building rights in the future.
• Approval was given for the construction of 100,000 sq.m. of office and commercial space, plus 1,125 apartments on the 59 dunam (14.75 acre) wholesale market compound, near the Yigal Allon compounds. The construction of 950 apartments and 12,000 sq.m. of commercial space on a 48 dunam (12 acre) compound at the Ibn Gvirol and Arlozoroff Sts. was also approved. Luxury apartments will be built on these two sites, intended to attract thousands of residents to the city center.
• A rejection was given to a final appeal against the construction of Migdal's office tower on the Berkowitz compound, next to the courts building. The tower will have 29 stories and 20,000 sq.m. of office space, intended mostly for lease to attorneys. The building will face the new 18,000 sq.m. IBM House building, owned by Europe-Israel, which is intended for similar use.

The realization of these plans will bring back scores of high-tech companies, strengthen the city's status as the leader in the commercial and legal sectors, and add thousands of high-income residents to the population. The municipality will earn hundreds of million of shekels in rent, plus ten of millions of shekels in arnona (municipal housing/office taxes) a year. This revenue will help fund development projects. Naturally, everything depends on there being demand for all this space, even though the current real estate slump is not encouraging.
 

Globes; June 24, 2001 First International Bank going higher than Shalom Tower ...

The First International Bank of Israel is planning to build a 36-storey, 155 m. office building on its plot at the corner of Rothschild Blvd. and Yavne and Shadal Sts. in Tel Aviv. The bank will invest an estimated $30 million in the building, excluding the plot. The First International Bank tower will be the tallest in this area of the city, 13 m. higher than the 142 m. Shalom Tower. The bank's management recently applied to the town Planning and Building committee for approval of the project.

Read more about this building.
 

Haaretz; May 27, 2001 The local council of Tel Aviv has approved Beri-Naharda project . ...

The council rejected the objections of the residents to the construction of a 32-storey tower in the Beri-Naharda in the north part of the city. The construction plan is for 178 luxury apartments in 6 buildings, one of which is 32 stories tall.
 

Haaretz; May 20, 2001 Africa-Israel has started to build 20,000 sqm. office space in Petach Tikvah ...

The construction Africa-Israel has started building its "Lev Savyonim" project in Petach Tikvah at an investment of $20 million. The office complex will have 20,000 sqm. and 16 storeys, whereof one floor will be allocated to commercial use. The customers are expected to be companies within high-tech, communications, and finance.

See photo of model
 

Haaretz; May 13, 2001 The local council of Tel Aviv has approved construction of 140,000 sqm. ...

The local council of Tel Aviv has given its approval to the companies Tnuva (largest producer of dairy products in Israel)and Kupat Cholim (National health services provider) to construct 4 office towers of up to 50 storeys tall, with an option to add residential space. This construction is to take place on a plot they own on Petach Tikvah road. The four towers will be built as two pairs that will be connected above low buildings (up to 6 storeys tall). Within the area, a square (or circle) will connect the shalom railway station, Wolovelski park, the planned 2000 area (see article from november 26, 2000), and the future subway station to be built east of the Ayalon highway.
 

Haaretz; May 06, 2001 100,000 sqm. of office space has been approved for Giv'ataim...

The regional council for planning and construction in Tel Aviv has approved a project to build two office high rises of 50 storeys each. The project encompasses 100,000 sqm. office space and 11,000 for commercial purposes. Additionally, four residential towers (23 storeys each) will be included. The project is to be constructed in the industrial area of Giv'ataim, adjacent to the Diamond Exchange area (where most of the recently built towers can be found)and the Ayalon highway

See photo of model
 

Globes; February 11, 2001 Huge office project to be constructed in Ramat Gan ...

Gibor Sport, Olympia, Aurec, and SAP have recently concluded a deal for construction of the largest office project in the coming years – 92,000 sq.m. in the Diamond Exchange compound, between Abba Hillel Road, Hahilazon Street, and Tuval Street. The companies will invest $150 million, and Bank Hapoalim will probably lead the financial coverage. The office project, Israel's second largest after the Azrieli Center, includes three 33-storey towers. Each tower will be constructed by some of the developers separately, while the design and the underground parking lot will be done jointly.
 

Haaretz; January 28, 2001 Almog will construct a 147 meter high residential tower ...

The Almog Yam (from the Yam Souf group)will construct a 38-storey, 147 meter high tower on Eilat road in the Nechostan zone. All the required approvals hav been received. The first two floors will be reserved for commercial use while the rest will be apartments with an average price tag of $300,000.
 

Haaretz; January 28, 2001 The Pheonix will resume the construction...

The Pheonix will soon resume the construction of its 35-storey office/residential tower. The construction was halted three months ago due to concerns that the construction would damage a security installation nearby.
 

Haaretz; January 28, 2001 Residential tower to be built in south Tel Aviv...

The Almog-Yam construction company plans to build a 147 meter, 38 storey tall residential tower on Eilat road, between the Neveh Tzedek and Florentine neighborhood. These are both old neighborhoods and are characterized by low-rise bulidings.

The tower will include 300 apartment units, where the first two floors will be for commercial use. All the necessary construction permits have been issued.
 

Haaretz; January 07, 2001 B.S.R. has purchased plots...

The B.S.R. engineering and development group has purchased plots on the border of Ramat Gan and Bnei-Brak for the construction of two highrises. The two towers will be built across the street from each other at the intersection of Aba Hillel and Ben Gurion streets. The towers will be 24 and 27 storeys high and will cost a total of $115 million.

See photo of model
 

Haaretz; December 10, 2000 Ampa has resubmitted a plan ...

The Ampa real estate company has resubmitted to the regional council of Tel Aviv a plan to build 65,000 sqm. of office space and 50,000 sqm. of underground parking space in between Yigal Alon st., and Derech Ha'haskala. This is the first stage in a plan that will eventually encompass 120,000 of office space and 100,000 sqm. of parking space.

The construction is scheduled to commence in March 2001. See photo of model
 

Skyscraper forum; November 26, 2000 Tel Aviv approve 50 new skyscrapers...

This information is provided by Asaf Wakshlak, a regular contributor to the forum at www.skyscraperpage.com

• A new area that will be called "2000 Area" will include skyscrapers that have 70-85 floors.
• 6 new skyscrapers - 60-65 floors (2 Ellit towers, 2 Givaatim towers, Sitonai tower and Amkor tower).
• 2 new skyscrapers - 50 floors (Tnuva-Kllalit tower and Fain tower).
• 24 new skyscrapers - 40-50 floors (12 towers in a new neighborhood -"Amal Hill",3 Taas towers, 3 south Kirya tower,3 Sinerma towers, 2 fain tower and SGE tower).
• 23 new skyscrapers - 20-35 floors.

Total : 55 new skyscrapers in Tel Aviv (not including the new "2000 area"). 10 of those buildings are already under construction.
 

Globes; November 23, 2000  Starck to design Israel's tallest high-rise...

International designed Philippe Starck will build a project in Israel too. Habas signed an agreement with Starck to build two of the dozen exclusive high-rises planned for Tel Aviv's Givat Amal neighborhood. The neighborhood is designed to be Israel's tallest, with 40-story buildings. It has been learned that the Tel Aviv municipality is trying to promote the addition of 500 residential units to the 1,750 units already approved for the project, further raising its altitude. The Yo company, owned by Starck, will be responsible for planning and designing the high-rises apartments and public space. The project itself was designed by architect Professor Avraham Yaski. Its marketing is scheduled for mid-2001. Starck is considered to be one of the world's leading designers, having designed high-rises, hotels and prestigious restaurants in New York, Paris and London, which have earned considerable interest. His designs are tourist attractions in and of themselves.
 

Haaretz; November 5, 2000 "Wholesale Market plan" approved...

The local committee for planning and construction in Tel Aviv has approved the "Wholesale Market plan". The plan, which was prepared by the office of Ya'ar Architectures comprises an area of 52 dunams (approx. 15 acres) between the streets Karlibach and Chashmonaim, i.e. the wholesale market. The wholesale produce market is planned to be relocated at Hiriya, the former Tel Aviv garbage dump which is being re-zoned.
The plan includes the construction of 1,125 residential units, a commercial area, and public areas. The maximum height of the buildings will be 60 storeys - 240 meters high. To facilitate a smoother flow of traffic, the current overpass (nesharim) will be demolished. Instead, public transportation will be re-routed to a tunnel running beneath the market, while private transportation will flow through a circle built instead of the overpass. See photo of model
 

Haaretz; September 10, 2000 Committee in Ramat Gan submitted a plan for two 35-storey...

The local committee for planning and construction in Ramat Gan has deposited a plan for the "United Dairies compound", at the Elite junction. The plan includes the construction of two 35-storey buildings that are intended for offices, residence, hotel, and commerce - a total of 37,000 sqm.

The developer will be required to build two kindergardens at his own expense. Additionally, the committee submitted a plan for a 60-storey tower that will also be multi-purpose - a total of 47,500 sqm.. In the eastern part of this compound, the developer will build at his own expense a 4-storey public building (purpose unspecified). The plan includes the preservation of the Elite building, which will become a museum.

Furthermore, a plan has been submitted for the construction of a 60-storey tower adjacent to the Ayalon freeway, at the north end of Yigal Alon street.

The mayor of Ramat Gan, Tzi Bar, told the Haaretz that the committee is working on the principle of requiring developers to provide public areas (parks, sports centers, etc.) in return for high-rise building rights.
 

Haaretz; September 3, 2000 Tel Aviv city council is planning the construction of...

The Tel Aviv city council is planning three projects for the construction of 900,000 sqm. of office space in the south part of the city. The first project to be approved is in the Lodwipol neighbourhood west of the Ayalon freeway at the Kibutz Galuyot junction. The residents of this neighbourhood wish to move somewhere else due to the excessive noise from traffic. Construction of 100,000 sqm. office space will be comprised of 35-storey towers, whereof 2-4 storeys will be allocated to commercial usage.

The two other projects that haven't yet been discussed in the council are the "South Gate", and the "Business area" in the Bitzaroun neighbourhood. Together, these will comprise 800,000 sqm. of office space. For the South Gate project, the city council will soon convene to choose from one of the two options:

1. Construction of 9 10-storey buildings, and one 40-storey building.
2. Construction of 3 28-storey buildings, one 40-storey building, and one 12-storey building.

For the third project, located in the Bitzaroun neighbourhood, the city council has offered construction rights for 717,000 sqm. office space.
 

Globes; Aug 23, 2000  Plans to Construct Tower on Egged House Plot Approved for Deposit...

The local building and planning committee has approved the deposit of plans for a 65-storey tower on the Egged House 10 dunam (2.5 acres) compound on Petach-Tikva Road in Tel Aviv. A ten-storey building currently stands on the plot. The new tower, which is expected to be higher than the Azrieli towers, was designed by Nitsba, NTM and the Egged House Co. The 47,000 sq.m. tower will include offices, a health club and 1,350 parking spaces.
 

Globes; July 9,2000 Azrieli Changes Mind: Will Renew Tel Aviv Square Tower Construction ...

David Azrieli has decided to renew construction of the square tower in the Azrieli Tel Aviv towers project. Azrieli had suspended the construction until reaching an agreement on betterment taxes with the Tel Aviv municipality. The decision to renew construction had been taken after disagreement was reduced with the municipality, which is no longer demanding a betterment tax of NIS 50 million. The areas in the square tower will be leased mainly for offices and small and medium-sized businesses. The square tower will have 42 storeys with a total area of 55,000 sq.m. The lower part of the tower, which will have 32,000 sq.m., is designated to be leased as offices, while the remaining storeys are designated to be the Meridian Hotel, which is owned by a local group of developers.

The Azrieli group announced that it is beginning construction, in spite of the fact that it had suffered millions of shekels in damages from the delay, which increased its financing expenses. The group also announced that it had already marketed 85% of the office space in the circular and triangle towers.
 

Haaretz; June 6, 2000 The council for Israel's land development...

The council for Israel's land development (Minhal Mekar'kei Israel) has submitted a request to the Committee for local planning and construction in Tel Aviv to increase by 40% the rights for construction in area between Namir and Halacha roads. This area is considered one of the most expensive in Israel, and sales of apartments and commercial area is expected to reach up to $500 million. If approved, the project will include 1,700 apartments in buildings reaching up to 50 storeys.
 

Haaretz; May 7, 2000 The National Council for Planning and Construction...

The National Council for Planning and Construction is about to give its principal approval of the National Construction Plan #35. The NCP has been prepared by the urban planners Shamai Asif and Prof. Arieh Shachar. Basically, the authors recommend removing limits on building heights, in order to increase the density of the built-up areas, and thereby better exploit the plots available. This will leave more room to enable "open areas" outside of the city centers.

Currently, the tallest building in Tel Aviv is the Azrieli Center at 50 storeys. The Natzba - the real estate company of the Egged bus-cooperative - is planning to build a 65-storey tower at the intersection of Petach Tikvah and Mozes roads.

In the Diamond Exchange area of Ramat Gan, a new 50-storey building that goes by the name of "Sapir Tower" is on the drawing board of the AMAB construction group.

Currently, buildings in Tel Aviv are considered individually, without taking into consideration the overall implications for the surrounding area. The planners recommend thinking in terms of creating cohesive high rise areas, that integrate communication and transportation infrastructure with pedestrian walkways and green areas between the buildings (as is the case with Le Defense in Paris).
 

Globes; January 24, 2000 The Regional Planning and Building Committee...

The Regional Planning and Building Committee approved Natsba's plans to build a 90,000 m² 65-storey. office tower on the company's plot on Petach Tikva Road, corner of Mozes Street in Tel Aviv. Investment will total $100 million. The tower will compete with Ocif-Aviv's City Gate tower in Ramat Gan for the title of the country's tallest building. Natsba is owned by Egged members and retirees (80%), and Ashtrom-Granite Hacarmel (20%).
 

Ha'aretz Real Estate; January 2, 2000 A new plan has been submitted...

A new plan has been submitted to the Tel Aviv municipality for the conversion of the wholeseller's market to a combined residential & commercial area. The market is currently dominated by the Tnuva dairy products conglomerate. Although Tnuva has the right to lease the area for another 25 years, they agreed that the market does not belong inside an urban area, and should be moved out of the city. The area of the market between Karlibach and Chashmonaim streets is 52,000 sqm. According to the plan, buildings of up to 60 storeys, or 240 meters tall will be built.
 

Ha'aretz Real Estate; December 19,1999 The committee for planning and construction for TA...

The committee for planning and construction for TA approved a project for the "Natzba" group to build a 65 storey building at the crossing of Derech Petach Tikvah and Moses. The project will be called "Egged house" and will include a 4-story shopping mall and six stories of parking as well as a health club. The group will invest $90 million in the project. The project will contain 90,000 sqm. in a building that will rise to 186 meters. The construction is estimated to last 28 months.
 

Ha'aretz Real Estate; December 12, 1999 Plan for building three 37-story towers...

Plan for building three 37-story towers for residence in Kikar HaMedina (total of 517 apartments). All the commercial area originally allocated has been cancelled. Approvals for building at this site have been pending for 30 years. Some of the land owners sued the municipality claiming the delays in approval have caused them significant financial damage.