Tower 17 in the Moulins district is currently being deconstructed. This building, a symbol of the area’s former urban landscape, will disappear to make way for a more open space better integrated into the district’s transformation project.
“This is a strong ambition carried by the State,” declared the Deputy Prefect Céline Maquet, on the occasion of the construction site’s launch, emphasizing the importance of this operation as part of the national urban renewal program.
Around this initial demolition, other operations are planned. Buildings 18 and 20 will be renovated, as well as buildings 4, 5, 18, and 20, in a renovation plan that will extend until 2030. The demolition of building 19 is scheduled for fall 2026. Housing units of type T1 and T2 will also be adapted to the needs of an aging population, notes Anthony Borré, the first Deputy Mayor of Nice and President of Côte d’Azur Habitat.
A vast urban renewal project
The demolition of tower 17 is part of a broader project. Since its launch, 147 families have already been rehoused. Ultimately, the program plans to create 60 new homes, including 28 for homeownership. In continuity, Sœur Emmanuelle Alley will be completely opened to improve circulation and provide a more harmonious living environment for residents.
Technically, tower 17 is being demolished using a progressive method known as “top-down demolition.” The building is deconstructed from the inside, floor by floor, to limit disturbances and preserve nearby buildings in a densely populated and still inhabited area. The work is expected to be completed in April 2026, marking the end of a key initial phase in the neighborhood’s renewal.
The disappearance of tower 17 will symbolize the beginning of a profound transformation of the Moulins: modernization, opening of public spaces, and improvement of the living environment for residents, while preparing the ground for the next phases of the urban program.
