(haipo) – The Neot Peres neighborhood, located on the southern slopes of Haifa, is considered one of the city's newest and most sought-after neighborhoods. The modern construction, proximity to employment centers such as Matam, and high transportation accessibility – all of these have made it particularly attractive for young families. However, alongside the development, more and more problems are emerging that call into question the quality of life in the neighborhood. Dirt, traffic congestion, and especially nuisances related to the nearby construction work in the Neot Navon neighborhood – are just some of the difficulties reported by residents.
"Promise quality of life - in practice we live in a cloud of dust and noise"
Since Neot Peres was established, it has been considered a real estate gem. Apartment prices have jumped significantly – an apartment previously purchased for about 1.2 million NIS is now worth over 2 million. Indeed, it is difficult to find a 4-room apartment for less than this amount today. But in recent months there has been a decline in the sense of satisfaction: "We feel a decline in the quality of life," residents say, "and we hope the situation will improve soon."
Dirt, dust, noise and traffic jams – a daily snapshot
The construction work in the Neot Navon neighborhood, adjacent to Neot Peres, is displeasing. Shahar Zvilich, a resident of the neighborhood, explains: "There is a lot of dust here because of the work. If there were stricter supervision of the contractors, and if they consistently moistened the area - our quality of life would be much less affected. The dust enters the houses, settles on vehicles - it is an unpleasant environment to live in." Efrat Wiesel, a resident of the neighborhood, also shares: "From 07:00 in the morning there is constant noise, and dust everywhere. We are not opposed to the development, but we demand minimal consideration from the contractors."
Residents give up quality of life for transportation convenience
Efrat Wiesel, who rents an apartment in the neighborhood, says that despite the damage to the quality of life, she does not intend to move:
"My husband works in Tel Aviv, I work in Matam – so it's convenient for us to live close to the train. It's a practical decision, but definitely accompanied by frustration." This reflects a familiar phenomenon in large cities: residents are forced to give up quality of life in the neighborhood itself due to considerations of access to work.
Lane closures – without actual work
There is also much criticism of the transportation planning in the neighborhood. A central lane on Rotenberg Street was closed as part of preparations for the construction of a new metro line – but the work itself has not yet begun. “If they are not building yet – why close the road?” asks Efrat Wiesel. “It causes heavy traffic and impatience on the part of drivers and residents alike.”
"We will not allow them to destroy our neighborhood" • Residents against the Matron project in Haifa
Sammy Ofer: A stadium without parking – traffic jams at every game
Sami Ofer Stadium, with about 30,000 seats, is an important cultural and sports center – but it also creates unbearable traffic congestion. Shahar Zvilich shares: "We knew there was a stadium here, we weren't surprised. But what happens at events is chaos – cars are parked on every corner, blocking sidewalks, and there's not a single inspector in sight. I've contacted the municipality many times – and nothing happens. The solution the municipality proposed in the past – getting to the game stations by public transportation – is not being implemented in practice: the roads are packed with vehicles, the parking lots are inadequate, and the residents are the ones who suffer."
There is no delivery point – and the packages are scattered throughout the city.
Another complaint – that there is no pizza delivery service or store in the neighborhood that can be used as a delivery point for internet packages.
"It may sound silly," says Efrat Wiesel, "but it's part of a basic service for residents. Today we run a dedicated WhatsApp group - to collect each other's packages that have arrived throughout the city."
Municipality: We have stopped work and will work to dampen the dust
The municipality's response: The Haifa Municipality addressed the residents' claims and stopped the work on Rotenberg Street, until reorganization is complete. The municipality also stated that it will contact the executing company with a demand to regularly moisten the area in order to reduce dust hazards. It was also stated that the Metro project is intended to improve transportation in the neighborhood and nearby neighborhoods. We are promoting additional solutions such as a Matam interchange and a new intersection from the Katzir Road to Road 4.
Deputy Mayor Sarit Golan Steinberg on the ground: "We have instructed to carry out wetting, we will continue to monitor"
Deputy Mayor Sarit Golan Steinberg told Ha'afah: "I recently conducted a tour of the Neot Navon area following complaints from residents. I arrived with representatives of the Inspection Division, Yaffe Nof Company, and the Association of Cities for Environmental Protection.
I took care to mobilize the General Supervision Department and the Construction Supervision Department for an enforcement operation on the ground, during which contractors were given reports and clear instructions for carrying out the wetting. We carried out a re-inspection by representatives of the Yaffe Nof Company, the Association of Cities for Environmental Protection, and the municipal supervision departments, in order to ensure that the instructions were actually enforced, and that wetting operations and the integration of permanent targets had begun in areas where this could be done. In addition, the municipality continues to promote additional infrastructure solutions for the residents of the neighborhood, and, among other things, is maintaining a direct dialogue with the Ministry of Transportation to change the work plans of the metro on Rotenberg Street, while continuously cooperating with the residents' representatives to ensure that the neighborhood will be planned with the utmost consideration for their needs."
What's the fuss about? They bought apartments for a million shekels at first and now it's worth 2.6 million shekels.
For every person who complains, there are several families who are just waiting for a for sale sign to appear so they can buy, not to mention the huge demand to rent an apartment there at a reasonable price, and they can barely find one.
What can we say, those of us who live in a 70-year-old building in Kiryat Eliezer, whose half-life has promised it renewal, and the elderly residents only dream of an elevator to see the street and sit on a bench below?
Quality of life in my ass
Besides houses, what is there there?
Wait a minute, now your property taxes are going to go up like crazy too.
Everyone who bought in Neot Ars knew that there was a stadium there that would create traffic jams and noise pollution just like Kiryat Eliezer, knew that a main traffic route to Highway 4 passed through it, knew that a lot more would be built around it and that he would live on a huge construction site for 10 years in the future, knew that public transportation would pass through the routes.
The neighborhood there is not at all prestigious! It was not intended to be prestigious either, it was built to a fairly mediocre standard with lots of low-rise housing developments with very little view.
You chose to live in the southern suburbs of Haifa with the full knowledge that the area is developing and that there will be an active soccer stadium, so what's the crying about? It's not clear.
This delusional municipality has fallen on deaf ears. Instead of compensating the residents, you are raising the property tax to level A. What and who have you exaggerated? People made a commitment and bought in advance, knowing that they are buying in area B. What are you doing? We will not be silent for you. We will not give up on the city council either. What are you sitting there quietly for instead of representing your voters? Shame will not happen.