Only at the beginning of the 20th century,after the Hidgasic railway sub-line from Haifa began operating, the building of new dwelling houses outside the walls of "Ancient Haifa", got a swing. So, situated right at the eastern edge of the walls, Wadi Salib became the prime and obvious area for this new trend.
In 1948, when hostile activities flared between Arabs and Jews in Haifa,Ha'Shomer St, which is not a long street, became,in fact,the borderline between the parties. While this street was in the eastern part of the mainly Jewish populated neighborhood of Hadar Ha'Carmel,the area that spread to the West of this street,was heavily inhabited by Arabs.That area was,and still is, known by the name of Wadi Salib.
When fighting flared up, Most of the Arab inhabitants fled from the Wadi.The majority of them went to the Lebanon.
At the beginning of the fifties of last century, when the state was looking for both handy and immediate housing solutions for new Olim (immigrants)from North Africa and Eastern Europe,they allowed them to occupy the vacant houses in the Wadi.Towards the end of the fifties,about 20.000 people were living there.
At the beginning of the sixties, when the Olim received an alternative housing, they left the Wadi.
Then,The majority of the vacant houses were demolished, relying on development plans for the area. Most of the remaining houses,have been sealed,apparently waiting for reconstruction,upon the understanding that they are supposed to be part of a plan for a city historic reserve(the execution of which is yet to be expected)

January,2007