The deconstruction of tower 19 began on Wednesday, October 28 in the Moulins district in Nice, a few months after tower 17. The construction project, led by Côte d’Azur Habitat and its public partners, represents over 3.2 million euros for the two buildings. The objective is to free up land to build new housing, create a street, and redevelop public spaces.
The landscape of the Moulins district continues to transform. Built in 1968, tower 19 is now undergoing progressive deconstruction, following the launch of work on tower 17 in spring 2026. This operation is part of the New National Urban Renewal Program (NPNRU), undertaken to redevelop the district and improve its integration with the rest of Nice.
Led by Côte d’Azur Habitat, in partnership with the City of Nice, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, the State, and the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU), the project is scheduled to continue until March 2027. The cost of deconstructing the two towers amounts to 3,224,106 euros. The company Demcy, a subsidiary of the Eiffage group, is in charge of the work.
Beyond the disappearance of these two buildings, the project provides for a new organization of spaces. The freed land should accommodate new housing, including 65 free-market rental units developed by Foncière logement, as well as housing for purchase. A new one-way street should also facilitate traffic flow and help open up the district.
New housing and developments to open up the district
The deconstruction of tower 19 serves several objectives. The program aims in particular to replace buildings that no longer meet current housing standards, while reconsidering traffic flows and living spaces. The creation of new roads should enable better connectivity between Moulins and neighboring districts.
The mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti, also mentioned the construction of an additional hundred housing units, as part of a 91 million euro investment funded by the State, the Metropolis and the city of Nice. Part of this new supply is intended to promote home ownership.
For Françoise Souliman, president of Côte d’Azur Habitat and deputy mayor, the diversification of housing should contribute to social diversity. The organization thus intends to support the transformation of the district by combining housing renewal and evolution of public spaces.
The Moulins urban renewal program is not limited to towers 17 and 19. At district level, the NPNRU provides for the renovation of 748 housing units and their outdoor spaces, the demolition of 235 housing units that have become unsuitable, and the creation of 177 new housing units. Approximately 21,000 m² of public spaces are also to be developed, with new streets, pedestrian pathways, and landscaped areas. The modernization of facilities, particularly schools, is also among the project’s objectives.
A construction project adapted to the district’s constraints
Given the proximity of neighboring buildings, tower 19 is being deconstructed using a method known as topping. The eight upper levels are progressively dismantled from the top of the building, before the debris is evacuated from inside. The two lower levels are then to be demolished mechanically.
A preliminary phase of decontamination, including notably asbestos removal and lead removal, was carried out before this intervention began. The project must also limit nuisances related to noise and dust, while preserving the safety of residents. Measures have been taken to maintain necessary traffic flows, including ambulance access and a protected pathway for pedestrians.
The work is also accompanied by a section dedicated to occupational integration. As part of operations on towers 17 and 19, 1,191 hours of integration have been completed to date, with support from the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis PLIE service.
Safety, another challenge of urban renewal
The transformation of Moulins also takes place in a context marked by security problems and drug trafficking. Demolitions are presented by project leaders as a way to modify the district’s organization and eliminate certain drug dealing points. However, real estate operations constitute only one aspect of the transformation underway, with the security issue remaining a separate concern.
The urban renewal program began in autumn 2024 with the demolition of buildings 6 and 8. Tower 17 was then deconstructed starting in spring 2026, before work began on tower 19. Éric Ciotti indicated that no other tower would be demolished, without specifying the construction schedule for new housing on the freed land.
The expected completion date for the deconstruction of towers 17 and 19 is March 2027. The next steps should make it possible to implement the housing and development projects announced, as residents await lasting improvement to their living conditions.
NicePremium is a free, independent local news outlet.
Help us keep going by supporting our work from €5 per month.
