Since news traveled that Al-Nazlah and other districts in Jeddah will be torn down for the sake of modernizing the Khuzam Palace area, residents of the area have been worried about what will happen to them once the area is developed, Al-Watan reported. Abdulraouf Al-Haddad, 46, was born and grew up at Al-Nazlah. He said that he and other residents are torn between their love for the area and realization that they would have to pay the price for modernization. “We decided to collect signatures and we are taking up the matter with the four area mayors. We will send a letter to the authorities to ask for a delay. Rents have gone up everywhere and, socially speaking, there are widows and orphans. Where can these people go”, he asked. Residents of Al-Sabeel, Al-Balad, Al-Hendawiyah, Al-Qurayat, Al-Nazla Al-Yamaniyah and Al-Nazla Al-Sharqiyah have said they do not know if they can accept the destruction of their neighborhood to make way for more modernized planning of the area. Abdullah Habashi says that leaving the area also means leaving memories behind. Memories of artists like Mohammad Abdou and Touha, authors such as Omar Abad Rabbou and sports celebrities such as Ahmad Jameel, Khaled Abou Ras, Salah Ayyad, Faisal Ateeq and Hani Katturi from Ettihad and Ahli football teams. The social environment of Al-Nazlah was the reason why King Abdul Aziz chose to build his palace in the area, said an unidentified resident. Al-Nazlah area is also home to a number of large establishments, including the Islamic Development Bank, the Radio and Television Building, the Jeddah Police Directorate, the Public Library, Al-Maghrabi Hospital, the Orphan Home for Girls, Khozam Palace and the seven palaces of King Abdul Aziz and King Saud.
