According to Philippe Vardon: “The redevelopment project of the Ray site presented by the municipality has two major flaws.”
First of all, the project has increased from 80 apartments to 250! Christian Estrosi couldn’t even hide the sad reality of this change of direction: the municipality needs to rely on private financing for the promised facilities (dojo, fencing hall, park, etc.) because the funds are depleted.
This decision, leading to the densification and concreting of the neighborhood, is thus governed by a particularly unhealthy logic. And the pretty, green visual mock-ups with their figures taken from American image banks won’t change a thing! By indicating and even emphasizing that these are “conceptual” visuals, the town hall’s press service leaves little room for doubt.
The project involves a second change from the initial promises by abandoning the football field that was supposed to be included. The field should be “relocated elsewhere in the neighborhood” later on, according to Christian Estrosi’s words.
I call on the municipality and the group of builders to reconsider their choice and show some respect for this legendary venue and all the generations of Nice residents who have taken turns there with the same love for the Gym and, through it, for our city.
The popular stand, the “South,” can be preserved and not demolished, and its building repurposed to house the locker rooms and stands of a football field integrated into the complex, thus perpetuating the longstanding spirit of the Ray.
Philippe VARDON, Regional Councilor of PACA
