​Contemporary Nostalgia

TAMA 38/2 (DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION) - AN OFFICIAL BOOST FOR RAMAT GAN'S RENEWED CITY CENTER & OLD NEIGHBORHOODS

The land shortage in Ramat Gan's revitalized city center and its neighborhoods from the 40s and 50s, alongside modern planning solutions, has led to the construction of new residential buildings as part of the national Tama 38/2 plan. Renovating the oldest neighborhoods of private homes and putting them back on the map as modern, appealing residential options.

In a country characterized by warm Mediterranean climates most of the year, the Israeli dream of a single family home with a garden is still alive and well.

A garden adds charm, provides a refreshing alternative for hosting family and friends, and is especially useful as a tranquil green corner where you can relax. Families with small children tend to prefer a private garden because it is an ideal quiet place for children's activities, giving them a safe space to explore and even make a little mess. A garden is also a great feature for anyone with a pet.

With a little creativity you will discover many practical advantages to a garden, such as providing space for a storage unit or a treehouse, or as a site for your own beautiful fruit trees. Nevertheless, most Israelis refuse to leave the city, and do not have the financial resources for a single-family home in an urban area. The lack of land suitable for building new single-family homes, and the soaring prices of the few existing single-family homes in the greater Ramat Gan area, have caused the dream of owning a private house in the city to fade.

As part of the move to an urban lifestyle, residential towers have recently become highly sought-after, despite the fact that many Israelis are still tempted by a large space with an adjacent garden and maximum privacy in a quiet neighborhood.

In recent years, within the framework of the heavily-promoted Tama 38/2 (demolition and reconstruction) plan for Ramat Gan, hundreds of new apartments are being constructed in the rejuvenated city center and in the old, quiet neighborhoods built during the 40s and 50s. These neighborhoods, including Tel Ganim, Shikun Vatikim, and HaGefen, are primarily made up of single family homes. They enjoy an outstanding reputation, but lack the land on which to expand. With the widespread increase in high-rise construction, garden apartments have made a comeback as an affordable and readily-available alternative to single family homes.

The new garden apartments are significantly different from the first garden apartments built in the mid-90s. The new apartments show vast improvements, thanks to precise, innovative engineering plans that match the zeitgeist of the city.

Modern planners have been challenged to rectify the lack of privacy characteristic of older apartments. Solutions include terraced construction, elevated gardens, and large pergolas above each garden in order to separate them from their surroundings. The size of these new gardens also help ensure privacy. In the past, gardens were made up of a small strip of land that was usually only 50 sq.m. Today, the new projects offer spacious gardens that can easily be 100-200 sq.m. or more.

Thanks to these solutions, the public perception of garden apartments has changed, transforming them into attractive options that are just as appealing as single family homes.
 
So, any modern residential project built as part of the Tama 38/2 plan includes spacious apartments with attached private gardens ranging from 50–250 sq.m. This expansive construction renews and refreshes Ramat Gan's old neighborhoods, while brand new projects are putting these neighborhoods on the map, as reflected in the rising demand for garden apartments in the city.

Africa 38, a subsidiary of Africa Israel Residences, promotes urban renewal projects and renovates older areas where there is no land available for new construction projects. The company operates under the Savyoney HaIr brand, and within this framework markets apartments in Ramat Gan, Givatayim, and Tel Aviv.

Sample prices for garden apartments from Africa Israel Residences' Savyoney HaIr project:

• 90 sq.m. 3-bedroom apartment, with a 98 sq.m. garden, on the ground floor; part of Africa Israel Residences' urban renewal project at 17-19 Herut St. in Ramat Gan, for approximately NIS 2.6 million.
• 92 sq.m. 3-bedroom apartment with a 73 sq.m. garden, on the ground floor; part of Africa Israel Residences' urban renewal project at 128 Uziel St. in Ramat Gan, for approximately NIS 2.38 million.
• 107 sq.m. 4-bedroom apartment, with a 75 sq.m. garden, on the ground floor; part of Africa Israel Residences' urban renewal project at 1 Yachin St.  in Ramat Gan, for approximately NIS 2.84 million.