Acre Approves New Coastal Neighborhood and Hospital Relocation Plan

The Northern District Planning and Building Committee has recommended the deposit of a sweeping urban plan to establish a new residential neighborhood along the northern coastline of Acre. The initiative aims to add 2,322 housing units alongside commercial, employment, and tourism spaces.

Spanning approximately 564 dunams in the northern part of the city, the project is promoted by the Acre Municipality and the Ministry of Construction and Housing as part of the city's umbrella agreement. The development features a mix of building types, including 7-to-9-story structures, 14- and 18-story buildings, and a 25-story mixed-use tower containing residential, commercial, and employment areas. Out of the total units, 464 will be designated as small apartments.

A central component of the plan is the development of the northern coastline and its opening to the general public. Plans include a 90-dunam coastal park featuring an urban promenade, walking and cycling paths, and designated bathing beaches, while preserving local natural habitats such as abrasion platforms.

Furthermore, the project paves the way for the long-awaited relocation of the Mazor Hospital, which currently operates near the coastline with approximately 300 patients. Under the plan, 250 patients will be transferred to a new wing at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, and 50 patients will move to a new wing at the Poria Medical Center, significantly upgrading patient care conditions after decades of delays.

District Planner Dikla Adi Peretz emphasized that the plan successfully balances accelerated development with the preservation of unique natural values. Boaz Yosef, Chairman of the Northern District Committee, noted that the initiative combines economic viability with vital social steps, including the modernization of medical facilities for hundreds of patients.