Tel Aviv's ugliest plaza to get facelift
Atarim Square, once a glamorous center of leisure, has been decaying for decades. Now the city has approved a large-scale plan to bring it back to its glory days.
Atarim Square, which spans about 27,000 square meters, is currently owned by the Atarim LTD company, the Tel Aviv municipal authority, and private individuals. Construction on it began in the 1970s, and it has since become a Tel Aviv symbol. During its glory days it was a central leisure spot, but its status diminished during the 1980s.
Formally named after former Mayor Mordechai Namir, the square is located at the edge of Ben Gurion Boulevard, near the Gordon pool and Tel Aviv Marina. It was designed by architect Yaakov Rechter, under an initiative by former Tel Aviv mayor Shlomo Lahat, and was initially intended to be an attraction for tourists and Tel Aviv residents alike.
In the 1980s, the square was known for housing The Colosseum, one of the city's most renowned night club at the time, which has since closed. An open amphitheater stood outside the club, featuring a large gamut of shows. When the club closed in the early 1990s, the square was abandoned, and its restaurants and coffee shops closed. Its condition deteriorated, including the physical state of the structures. In 2004, the municipality decided to renovate the square rather than demolish it, and in 2007 the renovations began, but the state of the square did not significantly improve.
The three towers planned for the site tower up to 36 stories from the street level. The apartments in it will have an average area of 80 square meters each.
The mid-level, between the square and boardwalk is set to include a commercial center, which will be a direct continuation of Ben Gurion Boulevard, as well as special paths for pedestrians and cyclists. At least 355 new public parking places will be built, as well as a number of private parking spaces.
