When the municipal cohort arrives on Wednesday evening around 10:15 PM, a few hundred people are already gathered at Place Garibaldi. Christian Estrosi delivers a brief speech, quickly interrupted by a violin concerto. All eyes then turn toward the pool surrounding the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Anxiety grows as seconds tick by without a single drop emerging from the ground. “It’s falling through” note some puzzled spectators. But a fine and graceful rain soon contradicts them. A “not too high jet, so as not to obscure the statue,” explains Christian Estrosi.
Energy Savings
The cost of the projects amounts to 750,000 euros for the lighting and 120,000 for the fountain. The project, initiated by the previous administration, includes 393 projectors on the buildings, 69 on the ground, 141 under the arcades, 66 torches, and finally 33 projectors for the Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus. The total consumption amounts to over 43 kW. New feature: it is possible to reduce the light intensity by 25% to save energy. The used bulbs do not exceed 150 watts, except for the statue’s projectors, which are 250 watts each. It remains to be seen if local taxes will be affected.
Increased Assistance for Facade Renovation
Because while the bulk of the work is indeed finished, not everything is complete. The dual carriageway will undergo some modifications. Regarding facade renovation, Christian Estrosi announced that the assistance will increase from 40% to 60% of the project cost. That works out to approximately 600,000 euros for the property owners. The Deputy Mayor also intends to “rehabilitate the arcades,” so that they continue to offer places like the Mercury cinema, “bought by the city to prevent it from disappearing.” When Christian Estrosi cites Place Vendôme as an example, some in the audience worry about the popular life of their square. “I remember the time when I played here in the pool. I want to fight to preserve our past,” he adds, intending to reassure.
