This election year is a great opportunity to dust off and make final "finishes" to the contenders' suits, and to bring up issues and content that have remained as statements, promises and potentially "stimulating plans" until the next election.
Recently, there has been a resurgence of contestants who take advantage of events and significant obstacles to campaign for the mayoralty of Haifa, such as the retaining wall that recently collapsed on Yad Labanim Street in Haifa.
This is also an opportunity to raise the discussion regarding the future of the casino building in the Bat Galim neighborhood and other such buildings in Haifa and its neighborhoods.
The postponement of the plan to build a hotel instead of the casino building
Around October 2017, the Planning and Construction Appeals Committee accepted the appeal submitted by councilors Avihu Han and Yron Hanan from the Haifa Green Movement to include the casino building that was rebuilt in 1999-2000 under the category and construction benefits for buildings of TMA 38 (buildings built before 1980).
The justification for the appeal was that the rebuilding of the building does not meet the category of buildings built before 1980, despite the developer's claim that the rebuilt building that took place from 1999 made use of existing parts of the original building built before 1980.
Thus, finally, the plan to build a hotel instead of the casino building in Bat Galim was rejected. The claim of the chairman of the Green faction, Mr. Avihu Han, that the municipality should buy and renovate the casino building and turn it into a public building for the benefit of the residents of Bat Galim and Haifa as a whole.
A bit of history for the casino structure
The famous casino building in the Bat Galim neighborhood is an architectural landmark in the heart of the neighborhood. It is located in the center of attraction and tourism of the city - at the end of Washington Palm Avenue, which was designed by the architect Richard Kaufman in 1921 during the British era. The building is called a "casino" but it never had such activity. In the 30s and 40s Previously, the place operated as an entertainment center, and after the establishment of the state, it was used as an event hall, until the 70s. Many residents of the neighborhood remember with nostalgic fondness the meetings that took place in the building and the Bat Galim blessing that was next to it.
The building purchased by an entrepreneur from the 80s went through ups and downs while attempting to restore, demolish and rebuild, and the current result that we see today is a "white elephant" from 2000, a skeleton closed and surrounded by wire fences, the purpose of which is to prevent the entry of foreigners, on which there are graffiti and neglect persistent and painful.
The idea of building a hotel was rejected and it's a good thing, see the example of the Leonardo Plaza hotel complex and the resort apartment building that were built on Meridian Beach. Their very existence constitutes a hazard and a disturbance to the first unique coastline that exists. Building a hotel at the point most identified with the place will be a blatant disturbance to the visual peace and the existing unique character.
The residents of Bat Galim will be happy and bless the idea of Mr. Avihu Han, to purchase and rehabilitate the casino building and turn it into a public building of significance for the residents of Haifa and Bat Galim, and for all visitors and guests there.
One of the most correct things is to take down this abandoned building that stands like a block of concrete that hides this neighborhood, as soon as it is taken down the whole sea will open to the sight of Bat Galim Blvd. Today many residents sit and visit the grass on Bat Galim Blvd. If this building wasn't there the whole sea would be Open in front of the boulevard..
Bat Galim is simply the great waste of this city. Terrible neglect, zero investment, all over the world districts by the sea are well-kept and invested, along the boardwalk there should have been restaurants, bars, look at Paphos in Cyprus what a fun boardwalk.
preserve the building. good morning and good week
Avihu Han who fought in Bazan is actually an employee of the electricity company that pollutes Haifa, think about it
Consider it two-faced at its best
From the election platform of Ehad Avihu Han:
"Tourism and culture: in this area Han undertakes to act for the development of tourism in the city and to establish entertainment, leisure and sports culture centers."
In practice Han works against tourism...
The residents of Haifa will not let them be knocked twice in a row.
In my opinion it is better to destroy the building and return the beach to the residents. Also build the pool and all the services around it.
What is destroy? Is it theirs?
In order to demolish, the municipality will first have to buy it from the owner for tens of millions of shekels, of course, and all this from our public funds.
There is no reason for this wanton waste.
From what I was told by veterans of Bat Galim at the original casino, the ground floor belonged to the public and contained cloakrooms and storage rooms for the pool.
It is not clear how the municipality of Haifa does not have a share in the ownership of the casino because that public floor belonged to the municipality in the building until the pool was closed.
Worth checking by the city engineer.
If Tel Aviv could blow the dolphinarium and open this beach to the public then that is exactly what Haifa should do with the casino.
To learn exactly what Tel Aviv is doing at the Dolphinarium beach with a new beach and a supporting toilet structure next to it and this is exactly what is missing in Bat Galim beaches. Take the Tel Aviv plan and do a copy-paste with moving the breakwater at Bat Galim to increase the bathing beach another 50 meters to the south.
Any developer who comes up with a proposal for a 4-meter-high separation fence in front of the boardwalk to turn it into a center of hingots and hafelats is worded like what happened with Yatbata in the city, and those who understand will understand - will encounter opposition from all the residents of the neighborhood.
A reminder, this is a building that was built not 100 m or 300 m from the beach, but right on the water's edge and takes up precious beach space that belongs to the general public. Today there are already laws for construction on the waterfront, what should happen according to the Coastal Law is to blow this unnecessary bomb and build a deck like in the Tel Aviv port and enlarge the beach. The "casino" on the Tel Aviv beach was also destroyed and no one misses the building.
Excellent idea and better than an abandoned building
In most cases, a Binui removal project makes it possible to organize the items in the apartment as well as generate an alternative profit from the items that are no longer needed. This is especially true in the apartments of older people. As long as there are old items in the apartment such as records, books, old newspapers or any item from the 1950s, there is a situation that these are collectibles with monetary value. If you want to know how to evaluate the contents of the apartment independently, search on Google "Evacuation of Yosef Hausef's apartment" and get an accurate article that explains how to do this.
I don't understand why it bothers anyone that the building will go back to being used as an event hall. In the late sixties I was there at the wedding of a couple of friends and it was fun. And a hotel can maintain the building and also operate an event hall. And parking can be done in the area of the former pool that stands deserted, the pool has long since ceased to exist there and can be used as a parking lot for the public not only for the hotel and it is also possible to organize another stretch of beach open to the public not for bathing but for watching the sea and fishing. And the reason that the building that was renovated according to its original structure did not become a completely different living structure. At the time the building was purchased by a Moroccan Jewish millionaire. Towards the end of the renovation, a malfunction occurred, the millionaire was banned in Morocco on allegations of bribery and went to prison there for several years. Only after he was released the building changed hands to others and this is the situation today
Aim for the article
Enlightening the eyes!!!
And even more about the wonderful atmospheric paintings
In the renewed Bat Galim!
💐🪬🧿🪬💐
It is worth noting his father Han and Yron Hanan with a sign of adequate size that will be affixed to the walls of the casino ruins. It is fitting that the entire public should know and remember and keep in their hearts forever - the pair of council members, thanks to whom the ruin was not turned into a hotel attracting crowds.
And the conclusion for the future - never open a front against someone who is financially stronger than you.
Obviously, the developer just wanted to add some 5 floors above, and declare Tama 38 in order not to pay improvement levies. And turn the rest of the area into an event yard with a 4-meter fence that won't disturb the public on the boardwalk... in a small way.
If anything, a reward is due to council members who care about the public interest and not just the greed of an entrepreneur.
That is why it was appropriate to mention on a large sign on the building the names of the two members of the council Avihu Han and Yron Hanan.
That way, everyone passing by will know and cherish the one who stopped the casino from being turned into a hotel.
Not every initiative that makes money is wrong. Think how much the public would have profited from the hotel.
How do we vote for Abihu Hahn as you suggest after we saw him demonstrate in March at the Gulf Conference in front of the ministers of government and legal reform? In addition to the fact that half the people think differently and 64 mandates behind this government, there is an unwise political act here because whoever wants to be elected mayor needs a good relationship with the government in Jerusalem in the next 4 years.
Regarding the casino, and this is my personal opinion, it is better that it be strengthened, nurtured, but will continue to be an empty historical preservation site that will continue to be looked at from the boardwalk.
It is in any case better than proposals such as a hotel or a restaurant at the end of the boardwalk that will attract hundreds of vehicles and noise and damage the pastoral and special character of this section of the boardwalk.
The empty building serves as a living testimony to the previous days of the neighborhood and the glorious history of this neighborhood.
Why should it remain empty? Why doesn't the municipality purchase and use it for the benefit of the public?
Error correction: how we will agree, not how we will vote
There is such a dichotomy between the colorful and optimistic images and the gray concrete block that has been abandoned for decades blocking Sderot Bat Galim.
In light of the proximity to the noisy sea and high waves, there is no possibility for a hotel.
You need to purchase the building. Rebuild the sea water pool and next to it make a building open to the public with several restaurants and ice cream parlors that will use the part with a wide open balcony to sit next to them or on the roof and look out at the sea and the pool.
We deserve to enjoy Haifa and not just suffer from hazards on the coastline.
As far as I know - my mother's aunt - Cecilia Spitzer (who lives in front of the pool) baked wedding cakes for couples who got married in the casino around 1939. My mother (Hannah Spitzer, at the time) who immigrated to Israel in 38 when she was 13 years old brought at least one cake from home to the casino.
An interesting article that also touches the hearts of those who are not Galimi girls..
The time has come to take advantage of this treasure called Bat Galim and turn it into Haifa's Riviera. Old and new, sea and promenade - everything in it.
To create a pleasant place for Haifaites and tourists and not a desolation and dirt that is really a shame to bring guests from outside Haifa there.
Hopefully the next mayor will take care of this.
The paintings are simply a pleasure - well done Yossi Lubsalki
What is the problem with having a hotel there? Anything is better than the huge ugly building that hurts the eyes of all the residents and tourists who come to the place.
Secondly, I feel that this website has become a political PR tool recently, it is unpleasant to read articles whose entire purpose is an attempt to mention local political parties in order to gain votes for the upcoming elections.
The "Casino" building and the ruins of the pool
by which are 2 "white elephants"
I am more than 50 years old. Once Haifa
You were proud of them, now they are a shame
For Haifa and the municipal administration for generations.
They will be repaired and returned as soon as possible
For public use is better.
agree with every word. I wish this unique building would be restored and used for the public in the heart of a magical neighborhood. And it's a shame that the municipality is not considering renovating the well-remembered pool. Apart from the Maccabi pool in Carmel, there are no public pools left in the city. The pool on Hapoel Street was also closed many years ago and has no trace of it.
The building should be lowered, allowing a view from the boulevard to the sea. Not a public building, not a hotel, not anything - simply return the beach to the public, to whom the beach belongs.
Why did they destroy the Bat Galim pool? There was an Olympic pool, the water was sea water, it served the residents who came happily, why did they destroy it?
Preserve the building, neither add nor subtract. Dedicate the designation to the city's residents and visitors
In addition to note that if you renovate within Tama 38 the city does not receive improvement levies of millions.