As his sole response, Master Chauvet explained that he had not attended the January neighborhood meeting because he was only notified three days in advance; he couldn’t even send a representative from the downtown mission… That was his only response, thus skirting the question. In the meantime, he had visited the place himself, explaining to residents and merchants that they would still need to be patient due to a lack of funding.
In fact, the problem of constructing the Notre Dame car park isn’t the only issue in the city center. There is a long list of postponed parking projects, such as those for the Lépante neighborhood, the South Station, or the one planned under Wilson Square. Furthermore, issues of cleanliness during the day and security at night in small squares remain recurring problems in Nice, according to residents’ statements. We take as the latest examples the issues denounced by the inhabitants of Arson Square despite its recent renovation. Substantial investments have been made for the major squares (notably Masséna and Garibaldi) or for the indispensable tramway, but today a rift has formed within the city council between those who consider investments in resident parking and nearby amenities in the city center as urgent and those who believe the budget will only allow them once the major works are completed (New City Hall, Pasteur renovation, Grand Stadium). Auguste Vérola seems to have become somewhat a symbol of this divide: even Christian Estrosi appears to have taken a side during the inauguration of the department house on the promenade: essentially, he expressed in other words, how can we do without the services and local experience of Mr. Vérola? The latter, having been relieved of his responsibilities a few months ago, has become a simple city councilor. The Municipal election debate seems already underway at least within the city council but also by Messieurs Riviere, Mottard, and Allemand.
Proposals for the Development of the Notre-Dame Neighborhood
For Auguste Vérola, these measures could be immediate, all to boost the appeal of Notre Dame square and enhance its shops. This would give some time to find a quick financing solution for the parking construction and to launch the work:
1- Opening of the Saëtone Police Station all day Saturday and wider dissemination of the police station’s phone number: 04 93 82 01 40,
2- Strengthen parking surveillance on Italy Street especially in the morning and ensure the exit from Auber school (2 policemen performing this task),
3- Penalize excessive obstructions (sidewalks and pallets) after a warning,
4- Replace the parking meters at Notre-Dame Square with a road agent or better, a policeman who will distribute tickets and monitor,
5- Implement (around the parking lot) short-term parking spots (20 minutes),
6- Close off Belgium alley and Martin passageway with a retractable bollard,
7- Introduce a discount card by the Neighborhood Committee to benefit residents in shops, theaters, and recreation centers,
8- In the medium term, restart the construction of the car park,
9- Launch a Housing Improvement Operation to complement the one from 5 years ago (Toulon has created a duty-free zone in the city center),
10- Acquisition by the City Hall of scattered apartments (e.g., 33 avenue Jean Médecin) and commercial premises for better commercial diversity.
