During the COVID-19 pandemic, a global trend emerged to encourage walkability, and in 2020, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality joined this movement. More than 25 streets were transformed into walking routes, allowing access only for pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders. Among these was Ashtori Hafarhi Street in the Old North neighborhood, which was repurposed to reclaim urban space for pedestrians and help revitalize commerce that had suffered due to the pandemic.
The initiative, however, met with resistance from residents and business owners, who felt that closing the street reduced parking options and failed to serve their interests. Many called for the street to be reopened to vehicle traffic.
Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity: Finding a Sustainable Solution to the Urban Challenge
Through observations and conversations with residents and business owners, we learned that simply closing the street was not enough to improve the pedestrian experience or support local businesses. Visitors described the street as uninviting, dirty, dull, and lacking shaded seating areas. One interviewee summed it up by saying, “There’s no place to spread out a blanket and sit down.” This statement inspired us to reimagine the space as a lively urban plaza where people could relax, play, and connect. We realized that our unique perspective, which focuses on the needs of young children and their families, could offer a solution that would benefit all street users.
An immediate, quick, and low-budget intervention designed to rapidly change the reality on the ground.
One of our key strengths lies in overcoming municipal bureaucratic barriers and proposing actionable plans within a short timeframe. Within a week, we had drafted a sketch, received price estimates, and determined that the costs were low. Moreover, the transformation only required adding to the existing infrastructure, with no structural or foundational changes. Through collaborating with municipal departments, we received the green light and implementation began. Within just a few months of the initial street closure, the new spaces in the plaza were completed, and the results speak for themselves.
Partnering municipal units:
The Community, Culture, and Sports Administration; the City Architect; the City Beautification Department; the Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Authority.
