The City of Lemons is building its future starting today. Major construction projects are underway and will be completed in 2011 or later. Here is a comprehensive list of the changes that will characterize the Menton of tomorrow.
Opening of the Jean Cocteau Museum—Severin Wunderman Collection
The love story between Menton and Jean Cocteau began in 1955, sparked by the artist’s affection during a stay on the French Riviera and his visits to the surrounding areas. Jean Cocteau first offered Menton an exceptional wedding hall adorned with dreamlike frescoes. Since then, this hall has gained international fame, and Japanese newlyweds come here to confirm their union under the poet’s auspices. This story continued with Cocteau’s own rehabilitation of a 17th-century fort on the dike of the old port: the Bastion. This building, with its façade and embrasures painted by the artist, houses several of his plastic works and ceramics.
Opened in 1966, three years after its master’s passing, the Bastion has over four decades become a museum of global repute. In 2011, Menton and Jean Cocteau will write a new chapter in their history. An exceptional one, with the opening of the world’s largest museum dedicated to the artist. An opportunity unmatched for a town of 30,000, made possible by the equally remarkable donation from an impassioned philanthropist: Mr. Séverin Wunderman. Enchanted by Menton, he chose in 2005 to bequeath the city his collection of 1,800 Cocteau-related pieces (including nearly a thousand by the artist himself). To accommodate this prestigious donation, the municipality called upon renowned architect Rudy Ricciotti, who designed a modern, fragmented, and elusive structure, with its cornerstone laid in December 2008. In honor of the man without whom none of this would have been possible, the city naturally decided to name this jewel: the “Jean Cocteau Museum – Severin Wunderman Collection.” Yet another proof that Menton is a unique city, small in size but with an international reach thanks to its vast cultural dimension.
5-star Hotel in Garavan
The exceptional climate of Menton, with mild winters, hot but maritime-tempered summers, and 316 days of sunshine a year, has long justified its reputation as a seaside resort. Highly valued by families from England and later from Northern and Eastern Europe, Menton became a first-rate tourist destination at the turn of the 20th century. This renown was bolstered by the city’s cultural development and dense tourist offering (exceptional gardens, architectural heritage as well as music festivals and the Lemon Festival). At one point, the town boasted up to 75 hotels, often majestic palaces, before World War II. In the 21st century, Menton must anticipate new challenges French tourism will soon face: the emergence of Asian markets, the development of business tourism, the increase in short trips, and more locally, the upcoming opening of the Jean Cocteau Museum–Severin Wunderman Collection. The city must therefore adapt its capacities where needs are most likely. Although the supply of 2, 3, and 4-star establishments is already sufficient, the municipality chose to enhance its hotel offerings with a premier 5-star project. This 5-star hotel will be built in Garavan, near the Italian border and the remarkable Maria Serena garden. The architect has been chosen—the Wilmotte & Associates firm—as well as the landscaper, Jean Mus, well-known in our region.
Deputy Mayor Jean-Claude GUIBAL wanted the project to integrate harmoniously with the environment: the building, under the shade of the Pian olive grove, will be designed in terraces and feature immaculate facades. The construction permit has been under review since January 2011, and work should begin quickly after consultations with businesses and external services.
The Garavan 5-star hotel will have approximately 96 rooms, around ten suites, as well as two restaurants and a 1000m² thalassotherapy center, all on a gross floor area of 12,000m².
Additionally, there will be meeting and conference rooms capable of hosting 400 people, allowing, in collaboration with the Palais de l’Europe located downtown, the opportunity for Menton to finally offer a true conference and seminar hosting strategy. The opening of this 5-star hotel is scheduled for the end of 2013.
Sciences Po. – Middle East Mediterranean center
If, as Paul Valéry said, “All life, our environment is our education,” then the City of Menton assumes its ambition to offer its children a setting conducive to their development. A living environment where culture, sports, and leisure blend harmoniously to build the mindset and humanism of tomorrow’s adults.
Already boasting a dozen primary and secondary institutions, a particularly dense early childhood offering, and specialized institutions for young people with disabilities, the city is equally proud to have a broad range of higher education programs, well-rooted in reality.
Indeed, training in professions such as hospitality, gastronomy, or nursing, aligned with the local economic fabric, complement the statistics and social careers programs at the IUT, which newly inaugurated, guarantee employment to nearly 9 in 10 students.
In terms of education, 2011 will mark the completion of another major project for Menton, fulfilling its transformation into a true university town.
By next fall, the Middle East Mediterranean Center of Sciences Po Paris, created in 2006 and so far housed at the IUT, will have its facilities transferred to the former Saint-Julien hospice, becoming an independent campus capable of accommodating up to 250 students, compared to 160 today. This future, rehabilitated campus will face the Mediterranean: a true symbol for this Menton branch of the prestigious institute, whose students are interested in the social and economic issues of the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, and the Gulf countries.
It will mainly be a tremendous asset for all young people from Menton—some of whom have been part of the cohorts since these students actively engage in local life.
Some live with local families to help the elderly, while others offer tutoring to middle school students. A fine example of integration and even more so, proof that Menton is committed to ensuring all its youth have the best chances of success.
Social housing & future eco-neighborhood at the heart of the city project in 2011.
Menton has committed to a proactive housing policy, in line with the challenges presented by its specific characteristics. Indeed, the valleys’ topography and state urban planning measures (such as PPRN) leave little buildable land. This results in a tight real estate market, where few new constructions are possible, and high demand makes private market acquisition difficult (averaging €6000/m² while the median income here is €1500).
In recent years, the municipality has increased initiatives in social housing to better meet the demands of struggling Menton residents.
On one hand, the improvement of the existing stock ensures living conditions in social housing comparable to those of private housing (for example, €6 million in works have been engaged over five years, with the help of the town hall, for the renovation of the Côte d’Azur Habitat residences, formerly OPAM). On the other hand, numerous actions are undertaken for the creation or transformation of social housing: preemptions, use of social operators (PLUS/PLAI/PLS), combating vacancy, support from the General Council, etc. The city also encourages landlords to sell some of their properties at prices below market value (from €2500 to €3500 per m²) to promote social homeownership (land PASS, PTZ). However, determined to go even further, Menton unveils a major project in 2011 that Deputy Mayor Jean-Claude GUIBAL holds dear: the Haut-Careï eco-neighborhood.
This new residential area, a true neighborhood, will be built around public facilities, meeting or leisure places, and shops. Above all, it will host, in its first phase, nearly 200 new homes, more than half of which will be social housing. Ultimately, a little over 300 apartments will be constructed.
The city aims to make this eco-neighborhood a model of living environment: both supportive, warm, and particularly attentive to contemporary urban challenges, including highlighting enhanced norms in terms of environment and accessibility. The first stone is expected to be laid by the end of the year once preliminary studies are completed.
And also…
Family Gardens Ville-jardin
Menton is proud of its seven exceptional gardens and green spaces at the heart of the city, which have earned it several distinctions, including the prestigious Fleur d’Or.
In 2011, the town wanted to do even more and respond to the 21st-century environmental challenges by developing “Family Gardens.”
Around ten of these have been set up in the Fossan Valley, each covering approximately 100 m², and the keys were handed over early this year to their Menton owners. The official inauguration is planned soon, before summer and once the gardens bloom.
Thanks to this initiative, the people of Menton are reconnecting with the earth themselves. They also strengthen neighborhood conviviality ties with their communicative passion.
The Sablettes Parking
The massive influx of visitors throughout the year represents a challenge for Menton, in terms of hosting capacity, traffic, and parking.
While the city offers over 1500 regulated spots, not counting free parking, the municipality has engaged in a vast renovation plan of existing parking spaces (both underground and surface) and the construction of a new parking lot on the Sablettes site, at the foot of the old town. This parking lot, with a capacity of 400 spaces, for which the CARF is the contractor, will allow, within two years, a direct link to the historic center by elevator, and it will meet the anticipated needs following the opening of the Jean Cocteau Museum – Severin Wunderman Collection.
Another parking lot is expected within four years, at the Place d’Armes (by the seaside near Roquebrune), with an underground capacity of around 300 spots.
Extension of the Hospital
In a health sector facing new challenges and profound changes, La Palmosa Hospital in Menton, whose Deputy Mayor Jean-Claude GUIBAL has been elected President of the new Supervisory Board (formerly Administrative Council), will undergo an extension with the creation of 100 care beds. This is an important sign for healthcare offerings in the eastern Alpes-Maritimes and for its sustainability, but also an example of successful cross-border cooperation since Monaco will participate up to 20%.
Thus, La Palmosa will confirm its identity as an indispensable regional hospital center for our living area. An identity as much as excellence, reinforced by the public-private initiative created last year, which has strengthened scheduled and ambulatory surgery by combining the strengths of both sectors.
