Beit Shemesh: First Urban Renewal Evacuation-Reconstruction Project Begins – In the Heart of the Old City

The old part of Beit Shemesh is getting a facelift. The city’s first evacuation-reconstruction (Pinui-binui) project is now underway in the Ramat Lechi complex, with the demolition of the first two of three buildings in the initial phase. This is a large-scale urban renewal initiative located in the heart of Beit Shemesh's older neighborhoods.

The project is located in the center of the old city and will include, upon completion, 1,195 new housing units, as well as public institutions, kindergartens, a planned new school, and even a neighborhood country club. The plan, approved by the National Committee for Priority Housing Areas (ותמ"ל), is divided into three stages. In each stage, 56 families will be relocated, their building torn down, and approximately 400 new apartments will be built in their place. The developer covers the full moving and rental costs for the displaced families during construction.

At the time the project was initiated, over 60% of the apartments in the Ramat Lechi complex were public housing units, which required the municipality to work closely with the Amidar housing company throughout the process.

Mayor Shmuel Greenberg said:"Beit Shemesh is renewing itself in the heart of its old city. This is a strategic move to strengthen the urban fabric and bring the general public back to the city center through the construction of modern towers. We are committed to inclusive, accessible urban development for everyone."

The project stands out due to the city’s unique policy: Until April 2027, Beit Shemesh is offering an exemption from many taxes for urban renewal projects. Ramat Lechi is the first complex to benefit from this incentive. Additionally, thanks to the municipality’s efforts with the Governmental Authority for Urban Renewal, approximately 34 million shekels were secured for infrastructure upgrades as part of a framework agreement signed in April 2022.

Eyal Hasidim, Director of the Urban Renewal Authority in the Beit Shemesh Municipality, added: "This is a significant milestone for Beit Shemesh. For the first time, an entire complex in the old city is being demolished and rebuilt – with residents fully supported throughout the process. This is a model we intend to replicate in additional neighborhoods."

The developers leading the project are Ami Kahlon and Tal Goldstein. This is the first evacuation-reconstruction project in the city to reach the execution stage - demolition and rebuilding. Three additional complexes are currently in the pipeline and expected to launch in the coming years, as part of a broader strategy to develop the city center and strengthen older neighborhoods through population-sensitive urban renewal.

Photo: Beit Shemesh Municipality.