(haipo) - Dozens of Bat Galim residents and environmental activists met on Monday evening, March 17, 2025, at the Goldmond bookstore in Talpiot Market, to discuss the progress of plans for the casino building in Bat Galim. At the meeting, the activists explained an opinion published earlier this month by the District Planning and Building Committee, according to which the land use designation of the building would be changed to hotel use, instead of the current public use. Many residents oppose the change, arguing that the possible implications for the public interest need to be examined.
Attorney Inbar Droyan ► Watch
The fight over the future of the casino building
The casino building in Bat Galim has been abandoned for many years, but the discussion about its future has been renewed following the intention to change the land's zoning and build a boutique hotel in its place. According to the submitted plan, the building will be raised to 7 floors and turned into a hotel with 110 rooms. The municipality claims that in exchange for the change of zoning, the area adjacent to the building will be used as public space, including a pool that will be open to the public.
The position of the district committee and the city engineer
The district committee's opinion also included the position of the city engineer, who proposed an alternative to the original plan. According to the alternative, a 7-story hotel would be built on the existing structure, with an open area for public use next to it. Residents claim that the change does not fully serve the public interest and are demanding additional solutions.
Residents and environmental activists in a prolonged struggle
Attorney Inbar Dorian, the chair of the Environmental Justice Clinic at the University of Haifa, who is accompanying the residents' struggle, described the public opposition:
"In June 2024, we understood the direction the municipality was moving in and began to act to protect the public interest. We are talking about a struggle that has lasted almost a year. I do not understand why the beach near the casino is still closed to the public. Our struggle focuses on ensuring public access to the beach areas and preventing the privatization of public assets."
Urban planner Omer Cohen ► Watch
The effects of the program on surfers and the public space
One of the main concerns of the residents is the expansion of the breakwater as part of the plan, which could harm surfing conditions there. Bat Galim Beach is considered one of the most attractive surfing spots in the country, and expanding the breakwater could change the movement of the waves and make the beach less accessible to surfers.
The struggle continues – demonstrations and meetings with the municipality
Over the past year, residents have held a series of protest activities, including demonstrations, tours and public outreach. Dorian explained that due to public pressure, the municipality has already made adjustments to the original plan, but there is still a need to continue the struggle. "We plan to take action in additional ways, including meetings with council members, public pressure and representation at the upcoming local committee meeting," she added.
Open discussion and residents' questions
At the meeting held at the Goldmond bookstore, an open discussion was held between the activists and the audience, in a "sorry for asking" format. Residents asked questions about the effects of the struggle, the involvement of other communities, and the significance of the local and district committee discussions. One of the main questions asked concerned the planned pool near the casino. Activists made it clear that there was no objection in principle to building a pool, as long as the entrance remained open to the public. If an entrance fee was charged, many residents expressed opposition to the move.
The historical condition of the casino and its past uses
Despite its name, the building known as the "Casino" was never used for gambling. It was built in the 30s as an entertainment center, and after the establishment of the state it was used as an event hall. In the 70s the building was abandoned, and in the 80s it was purchased by a private developer with the intention of establishing a resort complex there, including an event hall, cafes and a swimming pool. However, as part of the restoration of the building in the 90s, it was demolished and rebuilt, but the project was not completed, and today the abandoned skeleton stands on the seashore.
The implications of the lease on the future of the building
Another issue that came up at the meeting was the issue of land lease. The area on which the casino stands is leased until 2038, and activists sought to understand how to act within this framework to ensure that the building will also serve the general public and not just private developers.
The next stages of the struggle
Environmental activists and residents of Bat Galim plan to continue to put pressure on decision-makers. The upcoming discussion in the local committee is seen as a significant moment, which could affect the future of the plan. The residents want to ensure that decisions are made with a comprehensive view of the public's needs and preserving access to the beach.
The future of the casino in Bat Galim – the public at the center?
The main question that remains open is whether the municipality and the planning committees will take into account the public's demands and ensure that the space remains accessible and transparent to everyone. The fight over the future of the Bat Galim casino is still in full swing, and the residents intend to continue to make their voices heard at every possible opportunity.
Dozens of residents = 20 residents
From a neighborhood of hundreds of residents
It's a shame that the residents don't understand that they're being left with half of the original pool's surface to rot and calling it an open promenade.. A joke
In Tel Aviv, 400 residents have already signed a petition that their coastline will receive a new seawall.
If it wasn't Dankner, or so-and-so, would he have received all the benefits? From my experience with the municipality, they didn't give, they only took.
If it weren't for the Yahav campaign contributor, they would have told him, "Sir, to preserve its facade, you won't add even a meter on the roof or near it."
It's not good for you to sell.
We live in Bat Galim for two days. They have nothing to do all day, they sit on the grass and confuse their minds. The casino has been neglected for decades. We used to hang out there as children. It's a stinky place that finally needs to change... In addition, Haifa needs another marina and Bat Galim is the right place... Go back to Tel Aviv
After 50 years, this ugly elephant is finally about to become something beautiful, and here come residents who have no ownership of the property and try to poke holes in the beautiful project.
Who asks them?
Just scumbags.
Abandoned, ruined, and ugly place.
Why not change it to be beautiful?
The hotel will be built on your shoulders.
Just apartment tenants complaining about what and why. The place has been neglected for years, just standing there. Who are you to decide? Come on, move forward. Insolence.
This is a conspiracy. We need to pay tribute to Gili Dankner on behalf of the mayor for supporting the elections.
The casino was intended for a commercial and recreational building. The conversion to a hotel zone within the shoreline in new construction within the coastal strip is a crime against the law for keeping the coastal environment open and accessible to the public.
This is a robbery that builds a wall in a shape 30-40 meters high and 50 meters long. This is not a normal structure, this is a wide structure that is going to expand even further and create a 50-meter wall. A mini-House of Dagon.
Adding 4 floors when previously there was talk of 2. In other words, they are not reducing the damage, but on the contrary, they are intensifying the scenic damage and blocking the sea from the neighborhood. In the ugly but really ugly plan, an entire block above the casino is devoid of any form or taste from the Gordon Architects office – an ugly, bulky building that the casino and its unique shape are cramped and sunken into. A crime upon a crime.
This is a benefit of tens of millions of shekels to the developer, a gift that is not clear on what basis it is being given? This is a building that has never been used as a hotel and was not intended for hotels. The waterfront is an extremely rare resource in Israel, a large part of which is occupied by seaports, bases and factories. And here, with the little that Haifa has, developers come to Bat Galim and literally fill the waterfront with huge buildings. By what right? Why are they silent about this planning corruption???
This is a skeleton that does not meet the rules of Tama 38. It does not deserve any additional rights, not even one meter.
The building has used up all the rights to the lot. Why is the developer being given a gift of tens of millions of shekels? To fill the city coffers with levies?? Not interesting. There is a situation here of municipalities with deficits and actuarial debts for fake pensions that are speculating in real estate, creating serious harm to the quality of life of the residents, and all in a rush and trampling on basic principles of quality development and turning neighborhoods into crowded slums and blocking the view of the sky and light with giant towers and dense construction without serious solutions, for example, 100 rooms. Where will the hundreds of vehicles of the hotel's employees and tourists park? The sidewalks of Bat Galim? After all, there is not a single parking lot in the plan.. Does anyone know of a hotel that functions like this? So why lie to ourselves??
Park in your parking lot. Just an excuse. The place is neglected, a hotbed for homeless people who wander around and it's disgusting. Why not build something that will be beautiful and pleasing to the eye? The place is just a useless monster standing there.
So because the place is neglected, the developer should be allowed to demolish it with construction that is incompatible with a conservation building – reminding us that it is a conservation building that is being turned into a 30-meter-high block of flats.. What is your argument, actually?!