(haipo) – Residents living near the Haifa Theater have been complaining in recent days about an acute parking shortage, after they claim that a public parking bay near the municipal theater was blocked and allocated for the theater’s operational use. According to them, this is a move that directly affects their quality of life and their ability to find parking near their homes. Some residents even claim that if the situation continues, they are considering leaving the area.
For years, the parking bay behind the municipal theater on Yosef Street served as a parking lot for residents of the street and visitors to the area. According to residents, a barrier was recently erected to prevent private vehicles from entering and the area was allocated for the theater's operational use.
The residents claim that this is actually a blocking of a public area and that the move was carried out without sufficient communication with them. “They took our place,” said one of the residents. “Even so, the parking shortage in Hadar is very severe, especially on Yosef Street. Now we are left with almost no possibility of parking near the house.”
According to residents, for years, residents of the street used to park in the parking bay and sometimes had to make do with unregulated parking, due to the lack of parking spaces in the area. Now, after the area was blocked, they claim that the situation has become impossible. “We come home from work and spend a lot of time walking around the nearby streets just to find a free space,” said one resident. “It has become a daily nightmare.”
Some even warn that the loss of parking could lead to residents leaving the street. “If a solution isn’t found, people will really consider moving,” said one resident. “You can’t live like this.”
CPA Shimon Sarel, a former member of the city council, contacted municipal officials about the issue and claimed that this was a problematic move. “I would like to report a thuggish takeover by the Haifa Municipality and the Municipal Theater of the public parking bay located on Yosef Street, behind the Municipal Theater. The parking shortage in Hadar is one of the most difficult in the city, especially on Yosef Street,” he said.
Sarel noted that he contacted the mayor about the issue and was referred to the Public Inquiries Department for processing, but he claims that the issue is being delayed. “I was referred to the Public Inquiries Department, but the feeling is that they are dragging their feet in the face of the impossible parking shortage in the area,” he said.
In conversation with 'haipo' Sarel explained that the residents understand the operational needs of the theater, and especially the fact that trucks carrying scenery and stage props need free space for unloading and loading. However, he said that a balanced solution can be found that also takes into account the needs of the residents. "We are not opposed to the theater's activities," he said, "but we can allow the residents of the street to park there at night, when there is no truck unloading activity, and even allocate a number of parking spaces that will not interfere with the movement of the trucks. This way, we can provide a solution to both the needs of the residents and the operational needs of the theater."
According to the residents, they do not oppose the theater’s activities and even understand its operational needs, but they want to reach an arrangement that will balance the activities of the cultural institution with the needs of the residents. “We want to reach an agreement,” said one of them. “The theater is important to the city, but we live here too.”
The residents even raise claims that the blocking of the area was done illegally and that it is a public area that was open to public use. They claim that they are exploring options for taking action on the issue with the municipality.
The Haifa Municipality responded: "The arrangement in the parking lot adjacent to the Haifa Theater and the municipal library was made for safety and operational reasons. This is an active municipal complex that serves the Haifa Theater and the library every day, including the entry of trucks to unload and load scenery and equipment, transportation of children to educational activities, as well as the arrival of actors and theater employees in the evening hours."
Until now, unregulated parking of private vehicles on site has often prevented access for trucks and shuttles and created traffic congestion and safety hazards, including blocking essential entry and exit routes. After a professional examination, it was decided to erect a barrier and allocate the area for operational parking for the Haifa Theater, in order to enable the proper, continuous and safe operation of a central cultural institution, which serves thousands of residents every week.
"The municipality is aware of the parking needs of the area's residents and will continue to examine alternative solutions in the area, while balancing the needs of the residents with the need to ensure the proper operation of essential public institutions."
Workers for the welfare of citizens want a theater that will endure.
Leave the area???
I love you
Enough, my dear.
All the moving and carrying instead of breaking and smashing the barrier and uprooting every trace of it and freely entering to determine facts on the ground, just like the municipality did with criminality, that's what you will do.
Tell me, are you serious???
According to the city plan, the parking lot (except for a small section adjacent to the building) constitutes a public road in general. The municipality cannot close off part of a public road and designate it for parking and as a place to wash its employees' cars.
I wonder who the perpetrator was who gave such an order?
You forgot that the municipality fenced off part of a public street – Ibn Sina Street – in the section between the Zion Hotel and the municipality building and designated it for private parking for municipal officials. What's new?
The Haifa Municipality, which has failed in every area, only acts to alienate its residents! There is nothing, has never been, and will never be worse and worse than it!!!
Haifa is a very interesting corporation. You only represent one side. You are getting off my network. I have lost trust in you. Walla! In Haifa, they roared to expel the pigs of nature, but the human pigs that are accepted from the residents are simply stealing work. In the eyes of the Aryans, there is no trace of shame in you, but the truth wins in the end. There is a landlord who always sees everything. There are no free meals.
Parking is the only reason I don't go to plays at the Municipal Theater. Arriving 40 minutes before the show and walking around all the surrounding streets for half an hour? Thanks, once was enough for me to realize I had no business there. You idiots.
This old man has brought tears to Haifa and its residents for generations. Businessmen are fleeing the city. Entrepreneurs and minds are disappearing. Total lack of trust. A ghost city.
Keep choosing the old loser, that's what you'll get.
I join the fight.
It's really audacious that the city opened offices and parking lots on Gideon Street too. One big lifesaver is not enough. There are a lot of free-food offices in Haifa city. I hope that one day something will put this whole rundown place in order.
Only violence against the movement will achieve results.
The municipality understands violence, threats and bullying in the face of municipal bullying. Letters and complaints to me will achieve nothing.
The municipality is creating a parking shortage so that you will park illegally because you have no choice and that way it will hand out reports and enrich the municipality's coffers. All the talk suddenly about safety, why wasn't there a year or two ago?