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NEWS
Bnei Brak Builds Big Buildings
by A. Cohen
Despite economic difficulties across the country and the halt
of construction in many areas, two major commercial and
office buildings were recently begun in Bnei Brak that could
provide significant financial and employment help in the near
future for the city and the entire area.
City Secretary and Spokesman Avrohom Tannenbaum notes that
since Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz began his term as mayor,
emphasis has been placed on promoting large-scale financial
projects, and major projects have already been executed. Due
to the general economic decline nationwide, including in the
field of real estate, at this stage various plans in Bnei
Brak have been shelved, as in other cities. However, the City
of Bnei Brak has focused its efforts primarily on
entrepreneurial and financial projects, in part to increase
the city's tax base with commercial property that would make
the city less dependent on revenue from municipal taxes
collected from local residents.
Development efforts have also been hampered by the failure of
government ministries to transfer NIS 40.4 million ($8.3
million) in grants promised under the recovery program the
City has undertaken, which has been commended by the Interior
and Finance Ministries.
Still, several major, multi-phase projects are already
underway: On Ben Gurion Street Solel Boneh is building the 27-
story BSR Towers, which are designated for offices and
commercial space. On Aharonovich St. a 12.3-dunam building is
slated to house seven stories of commercial and office space,
public facilities, a huge shopping center and extra-large
events halls. Africa-Israel and Concord recently completed
five floors at Ben Gurion 13, and a 26-story office tower is
also slated for construction on the site. At the corner of
Aharonovich and Jabotinsky Streets, Kanei Barak recently
completed five stories of commercial space and seven stories
of office space totaling 31,400 square meters (314,000 square
feet).
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