The city of Nice and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis have launched an ambitious urban enhancement program in all the districts of Nice so that residents across the city can enjoy a pleasant environment and a better quality of life every day.
The goal is urban and social reclamation of the most vulnerable areas. From a comprehensive development strategy, the aim is to sustainably improve the comfort and living conditions of all residents.
The city center beautification program, or the National Program for the Requalification of Degraded Old Districts (PNRQAD) Notre-Dame/Thiers/Vernier, is a national scheme similar to urban renewal projects but adapted to older districts. It stems from the law of March 25, 2009, “Mobilization for housing and fight against exclusion.”
Urban renewal projects aim to pursue four main objectives:
– Diversify and improve the housing supply,
– Open up the neighborhood and requalify public spaces,
– Reinvest in the existing urban fabric to combat urban sprawl,
– Advance the social and economic integration of residents in these districts.
Conducted in a manner similar to other renovation projects, the PNRQAD in Nice covers an area of 70 hectares and primarily aims to:
– Eliminate substandard housing and combat energy poverty,
– Bring vacant housing back to market,
– Restructure local businesses and public spaces.
The flagship operations for urban, landscape, and commercial requalification will be concentrated mainly on two sites: Cour Bensa and Notre-Dame. Actions will also be taken in the private sector through a Planned Housing Improvement Operation.
Following the pedestrianization of Rue de Suisse in 2014, the next steps, in chronological order, will be in 2015 with the start of a 31-unit operation on Cour Bensa and demolitions in the heart of Cour Bensa; the delivery of the games hall project on Rue de Suisse.
In 2016/2017, there will be regular delivery of housing operations, the creation of public spaces: Impasses Bensa and Bonifassi, semi-pedestrianization of Trachel, and finally, restructuring of the housing at 10 Rue de Suisse.
