Number of high rises in Israel doubles

Article on Ynetnews.com September 1, 2010

By Billy Frenkel

Israeli Union for Managing Houses and Buildings says construction of towers 21 stories and higher jumps 125% in last two years

Israel is getting taller. New construction of towers with 21 stories or more rose 125% in 2008 and 2009 in comparison with 2006 and 2007, according to an analysis of Central Bureau of Statistics figures performed by the Israeli Union for Managing Houses and Buildings.

The figures show that the start of construction on high-rise buildings rose between 2006 and 2009. The rate of new construction on residential towers with 11 stories or more in urban areas stood at 16.5% of all new construction in 2006 and 2007. This figure rose to 23.5% by the end of the first quarter of 2010, with a total of 10,836 apartments overall.

The figures also show that Petah Tikva is gaining height the fastest in the past two years with 1,585 new apartment units being built in buildings 11 stories and taller. Of these, 485 apartments have started being built in buildings with 21 floors or more – 593 apartments in buildings with 16 to 20 floors, and 507 apartments in buildings between 11 and 15 floors.

Tel Aviv leads in 21-story building growth
Second in terms of overall new apartments built in towers 11 stories and taller is Be'er Yaakov with 1,016 such apartments being constructed during these years.

Tel Aviv came in third with construction being started on 782 new apartments in buildings with 11 stories and more. A breakdown of the figures by height of the apartments shows that Tel Aviv has the highest number of apartments being built in towers of 21 stories and higher with 539 new units.

The next cities on the list in descending order are Holon, Netanya, and Rishon Lezion.