The police station and the IDF Southern Command headquarters currently operating in the heart of the Old City will be vacated. The compound will be converted into an area that combines housing, culture and leisure activities, and a new urban hub with mixed uses.
The plan applies to an area of about 39 dunams, between the streets Palmach, Herzl, Independence, and Hativat HaNegev, and defines a new planning framework for the compound as an open urban space that integrates residences, commerce, employment, tourism, public buildings, and high-quality public spaces.
This is one of the most significant and central compounds in the Old City, which until today served as a closed and fenced military area, and is expected to open for the first time for the benefit of the public.
As part of the plan, designed by the firm “Irit Tsaraf – Architecture and Urban Planning” for the Beersheba Municipality, about 237 housing units will be built in buildings of up to six stories, above a commercial ground floor and public uses.
The planning aims to create active street fronts throughout the day and to strengthen the vitality of the public realm in the heart of the Old City.
Strengthening the historic heart and renewing the Old City
The architectural design preserves the unique character of the Old City and integrates preserved Ottoman and Mandate-era buildings alongside new construction.
The plan aligns with the municipal vision of strengthening the historic heart of Beersheba and continuing the renewal of the Old City as a vibrant center of living, culture, leisure, and tourism. Opening the compound will create a new urban continuum between the KKL pedestrian mall, Allenby Garden, the Carasso Park complex, and the surrounding historic streets.
The transportation system in the plan is based on a sustainable mobility concept that encourages walking, cycling, and public transportation. Vehicle traffic will take place only around the perimeter of the compound, while the inner core will be designated for pedestrians and cyclists. The plan will allow parking in a dedicated underground lot and ensure convenient access to the center of the Old City.
Economic, social, and environmental contribution
Approval of the plan is expected to strengthen the economy of the Old City by creating a new center for commerce, employment, and hospitality. The mix of different uses is expected to increase business activity, attract visitors and investors, and contribute to raising property values throughout the area. On the social level, the plan creates a diverse and safe community space, with open public areas and gardens that encourage encounters among residents. On the environmental level, the plan includes, among other things, a “green backbone” of shaded paths and green roofs.
The Mayor of Beersheba, Rubik Danilovich, noted:
“The recommendation to deposit the Command Compound plan is another milestone in strengthening the historic heart of Beersheba and turning it into a vibrant urban hub that connects heritage, culture, housing, and business. The relocation of the Southern Command to the Communications Campus in the Hi-Tech Park, together with urban renewal processes in the Old City and the establishment of a new residential neighborhood in the compound, are part of a broader move positioning Beersheba as a leading metropolis.”