The Marker, Yael Drel, 11.05.2020

The urban renewal sector is considered to have suffered a noticeable economic injury in the Corona crisis, but as far as the 2019 summit is concerned - there appears to have been an increase in the volume of plans and building permits granted for projects. The municipal renewal authority's report for the 2019 summary shows that last year 26,556 housing units (housing units / apartments) were approved in the industry - double the number approved in 2018.

However, the segment's figures show that the main beneficiaries of urban renewal projects in Israel are still residents of the center of the country. For example, about 70% of the housing units approved to date for construction evacuation projects were in the Tel Aviv and Central districts. In these districts, 34% and 39% were approved, respectively, of all apartments in these projects, while Haifa district dominates about 10%, Jerusalem district approx. -8% and the south on only 7%.

The report data does not reflect what occurred in the early months of 2020 and the significant slowdown recorded in the industry due to the Corona crisis. More.

Moreover, in recent months, although the construction industry has been defined as essential, many projects have been delayed, due to the difficulty of continuing to build - especially in the 38/1 TAMA projects - and the difficulty of holding tenants' conferences and meetings needed to promote projects.

As far as sales are concerned, the report shows that the city where the most homes were sold in urban renewal projects is Ramat Gan, 439 housing units, compared to only 149 housing units sold that year in Tel Aviv. However, the report shows that the average apartment space sold at the level A relatively low garden - only 91 square meters on average, compared to the area of ​​apartments in Tel Aviv sold in these projects - an average of about 100 square meters, or compared to Haifa where the average apartment space in projects is 113 square meters. Ashdod and Herzliya bypassed Tel Aviv, with 236 and 230 apartments, respectively, sold in urban renewal projects during 2019.

However, when it comes to granting building permits, Tel Aviv is leading together with Kiryat Ono and Yehud-Monosson - each of whom were granted building permits for 2,000 new apartments in 2019. Haifa also stars in the opening quartet with permits for 1,685 housing units in construction evacuation complexes. In Tel Aviv, 145 permits were granted, in Jerusalem 65, in Ramat Gan 65 and in Holon.

The report shows that the four leading cities in housing units for approved urban renewal plans are Rehovot, Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and Jerusalem. The streets have approved six evacuation buildings, which are expected to add more than 10,000 new housing units to the city, while in Tel Aviv Thirty complexes were approved, adding 5,513 new apartments to the city. In Bat Yam, 20 evacuation complexes were approved, with a similar addition of housing units (5,130), while in Jerusalem this year 19 evacuation complexes including 4,505 new apartments were approved.

In 2009, a first balance was reached between the two TMA tracks. If in 2010, about 93% of all 38 TMA projects in Israel relied on a reinforcement and thickening route, and only about 7% were carried out on the demolition and reconstruction route - then 2019 ended with about 50% per track.

Haim Avitan, Chairman of the Government Renewal Authority: "Many programs and projects across the state and especially in the periphery, would not have been launched without the assistance of the government. We continue to meet and even exceed the goals set by the government on the path to implementing the urban renewal revolution in Israel. "