Beirut Central District in the context of "Saifi Village"

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⭐ Core Definition: Beirut Central District

The Beirut Central District, historically named "Al-Balad", is the historical and geographical core of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Also called downtown Beirut, it has been described as the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” It is thousands of years old, with a traditional focus on business, finance, culture, and leisure.

The area is situated on the city's northern coast and is easily accessible from all parts of the city. This includes the adjacent Beirut Seaport and Rafik Hariri International Airport. Major roads converge on it or from boundaries to the east, south and west, or line its 1.5 km (1 mi) long seafront to the north.

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👉 Beirut Central District in the context of Saifi Village

33°53′39.46″N 35°30′29.57″E / 33.8942944°N 35.5082139°E / 33.8942944; 35.5082139

Saifi Village is an upscale residential neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon. Saifi Village is located at the southeastern periphery of Centre Ville. The village is bordered by Rue Charles Debbas to the south, Rue George Haddad to the east, Rue Gouraud to the north and Rue Ariss & Kanaani to the west. Its location is at the beginning of the former Green Line, which was the main frontline in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.

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Beirut Central District in the context of Urban village

In urban planning and design, an urban village is an urban development typically characterized by medium-density housing, mixed use zoning, good public transit and an emphasis on pedestrianization and public space. Contemporary urban village ideas are closely related to New Urbanism and smart growth ideas initiated in the United States.

Urban villages are seen to provide an alternative to recent patterns of urban development in many cities, especially decentralization and urban sprawl. They are generally purported to:

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Beirut Central District in the context of Solidere

Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the Lebanese Civil War. By agreement with the government, Solidere has special powers of eminent domain as well as a limited regulatory authority codified in law, making the company a form of public-private partnership.

Solidere was founded on 5 May 1994 under the authority of the Council of Development and Reconstruction and following the vision of then-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Solidere was incorporated as a privately owned company listed on the stock exchange. The name stands for Société Libanaise pour le Développement et la Reconstruction du Centre-ville de Beyrouth, French for "The Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut Central District".

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Beirut Central District in the context of Rue Gouraud

Rue Gouraud (Arabic: شارع غورو) is a mixed residential and commercial street in Gemmayzeh, a neighborhood in the Rmeil district of Beirut in Lebanon. It is named after French General Henri Gouraud. Gemmayze, and Rue Gouraud specifically, and competes with the trendy village-type neighborhood of Badaro, as one of Beirut's bohemian quarters. the district is full of narrow streets and historic buildings from the French era. The neighborhood is well known today for its trendy bars and pubs, cafes, restaurants and lounges, most of which are directly located on Rue Gouraud.
Rue Gouraud is known especially for its culinary scene that is popular with Beirut's fashionistas. The street runs east of Beirut Central District and the Saifi Village, extending from Avenue Georges Haddad and reaching the Corniche du Fleuve. In 2004, Travel + Leisure magazine called the street "SoHo by the Sea," due to its colorful and chic cafés amid 1950s apartment buildings and hole-in-the-wall shops.

Adjacent to Rue Gouraud are the Saint Nicolas Stairs, also known as Escalier de l'Art, where art festivals are held every year. The stairs lead to Rue Sursock further to the South. The area is also within walking distance from Rue Monnot and the Saifi Village.

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Beirut Central District in the context of Green Line (Lebanon)

The Green Line (Arabic: الخط الأخضر) was a line of demarcation in Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1990. It separated the mainly Muslim factions in predominantly Muslim West Beirut from the predominantly Christian East Beirut controlled by the Lebanese Front. However, as the Civil War continued, it also came to separate Sunni from Shia. At the beginning of the Civil War, the division was not absolute as some Muslims lived East of the Green Line and some Christians lived in West Beirut; but, as the Civil War continued, each sector became more homogeneous as minorities left the sector they were in. The appellation refers to the coloration of the foliage that grew because the space was uninhabited. While most commonly referred to as the "Green Line", it was also sometimes called the "Demarcation Line". It generally stretched from the North of Beirut to the South, and the primary street that followed the Green Line was Damascus Street. There was no formal line or continual security but it was common to see militia checkpoints that people crossing at particular points had to go through and snipers on top of buildings were common. Many of the buildings along the Green Line were severely damaged or destroyed during the war. Since the end of hostilities, however, many of the buildings have been rebuilt within the framework of the urban renewal project of Solidere in Centre Ville (Downtown).

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Beirut Central District in the context of Nejmeh Square

Nejmeh Square (Arabic: ساحة النجمة) or Place de l'Étoile is the central square in the Downtown area of Beirut, Lebanon. It is home to the Lebanese Parliament and its complementary buildings, two cathedrals, a museum, and several cafes and restaurants. Most notable for its Art Deco architecture, the square has become a recognizable icon of the city of Beirut worldwide.

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Beirut Central District in the context of Rafik Hariri International Airport

Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (Arabic: مطار رفيق الحريري الدولي بيروت, French: Aéroport international de Beyrouth - Rafic Hariri, previously known as Beirut International Airport) (IATA: BEY, ICAO: OLBA) is the only operational commercial airport in Lebanon. It is located in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the city center. The airport is the hub for Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA) and was the hub for the Lebanese cargo carrier TMA cargo and Wings of Lebanon before their respective collapses.

The airport was named after former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri in 2005, following his assassination earlier that year.

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Beirut Central District in the context of Maghen Abraham Synagogue

The Maghen Abraham Synagogue (Arabic: كنيس ماغين أبراهام, romanizedKanīs Mā'ghīn Abrā'hām; Hebrew: בית הכנסת מגן אברהם, romanizedBeth HaKenesset Magen Avraham) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the Jewish district of Wadi Abu Jamil in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.

Established in 1925, the synagogue was damaged by Israeli bombardment during the Lebanese Civil War. Restoration of the synagogue began in May 2009. In August 2010, renovations neared completion, with finishing touches made to the interior of the building. Haaretz reported that "synagogue restored to glory" and "has been renovated beautifully". The synagogue reopened in c. 2014, and was slightly damaged in the 2020 Beirut explosions.

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