On Monday, the press conference of Nicolas Grivel, the Director General of the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU), took place. They specifically addressed the issues faced by ANRU within the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis.
Launched by Jean-Louis Borloo in 2004, ANRU is an agency that facilitates urban redevelopment in France. Its Director General Nicolas Grivel supports these projects across the French territory. The one in Nice is, according to him, “of national significance,” notably in L’Ariane and Moulins/Point du Jour, where the project aims to connect the two sites.
ANRU’s two main objectives for the city of Nice are to create social diversity and to open up these neighborhoods. To diversify the district, Nicolas Grivel intends to use techniques common on a national scale: “To have a nice life, you need a nice view. We will seek to revitalize and beautify the neighborhood to attract new prospects. It is also important to provide guarantees to newcomers by increasing public services, such as schools, the post office, and cleaning. Ultimately, to recreate a healthy neighborhood life.”
This also involves access to Nice city center. Dominique Estrosi-Sassone promises that “in a year’s time, the Moulins district will be served by tram line 2. Previously, it was a true enclave, with only HLM Côte d’Azur Habitat (public housing office) as the owner. We have already completed the demolition phase in this neighborhood. The goal is to rebuild to diversify social rental properties, blending private and public ownership. Neighborhood life has picked up significantly since the beginning of the project, and access to the city center is a crucial point.”
An Ambitious Project
Started in 2007 at L’Ariane and in 2010 at Moulins and Point du Jour, the projects are now halfway completed. Their total cost is 450 million euros, with 86 million funded by ANRU. This project is considered “of national interest,” and will be joined by those in Nice – Les Liserons, Cannes – Ranguin-Frayère, and Grasse – Grand Centre. At the end of these commitments, 1,402 social housing units will be demolished, 1,440 will be rebuilt, and 2,770 will be rehabilitated.
