Olivier Bettati, a dissident UMP candidate in the municipal elections, has made social housing a priority. He envisions a profound reorganization of Côte d’Azur Habitat and wants to offer social housing residents the opportunity to become homeowners.
In the Liserons district, specifically in the lobby of a decrepit and deteriorated building, Olivier Bettati decided to hold his press conference. With this move, he criticizes the investments concentrated in the city center, just 5 kilometers from the district, inhabited by “the people of Nice who are not invited to the cocktail parties.”
Referencing Christian Estrosi’s record and the low amount invested in the rehabilitation and construction of social housing (56 million in 2010, 49 million in 2011, 36 million in 2012), he criticizes an administration incapable of finding solutions to the housing problem. The finances of Côte d’Azur Habitat are also in free fall, dropping from 71 million euros to 47 million euros.
His idea to change this is to rethink the city’s housing policy, deemed a priority for maintaining social balance among the people of Nice. He envisions enabling city residents who wish to do so to become homeowners. For the candidate, the solution lies in managing the 20,982 housing units administered by Côte d’Azur Habitat.
Initially, he aims to use this goldmine and sell the 7,082 housing units located outside of Nice to social landlords. Based on a basic calculation using an average of 50m² per unit and a price of €1,200 per m², he arrives at a total of around 500 million euros, including interior common areas. He will also sell the current CAH headquarters in favor of a less ostentatious and more suitable location.
With these funds, new social housing will be rebuilt, and the entire Nice housing stock would be rehabilitated. Vacant or squatted areas would be redeveloped. Ground floors will be modified to become residences for caretakers, community centers with daycare facilities, spaces for neighborhood associations, or apartments for people with disabilities.
Olivier Bettati also plans to launch a major homeownership campaign, a “key element,” stating that “passing on property to one’s children is an important moment in life.” The housing units would be sold only to Nice residents eligible for social housing. Côte d’Azur Habitat would guarantee the loans by pledging the apartments.
An “Exchange Market” will be established in each facility, and establishment mayors will be appointed and serve on the allocation committee. Ultimately, he aims for 25% of the rental stock to be reserved for young professionals and students.
Security is not forgotten, with the halls and public areas to be equipped with cameras and a security room directly linked with the police. A network of “vigilant neighbors” in each neighborhood will also be established.
Olivier Bettati thus seeks to transform Côte d’Azur Habitat from a “bad landlord status to that of a good management company serving its ‘clients.’”
