Patrick Allemand relies on the responses from questionnaires submitted to the residents of Nice last fall. Housing is their top concern. For his political comeback, the socialist candidate and member of the pluralist left (PCF, The Greens, MRC) listed the actions he and his team would undertake to address the shortcomings and inequalities in Nice’s real estate market. The term “social diversity” was frequently mentioned. It was as common as the severe criticism of current mayor Jacques Peyrat’s housing policy and the doubts raised about Christian Estrosi’s statements on these matters.
“Housing symbolizes the failure of the right, especially in the area of social housing,” says Patrick Allemand. He presents a stark assessment: “Nice has 20,000 social housing units. It lacks 18,000 to meet the 20% requirement of the SRU law. Currently, the city builds between 500 and 550 a year. More than 8,000 applications remain unsatisfied.” For the “Change of Era” list, the priority is to build 1,000 social rental housing units per year. It may seem ambitious, but Paul Cuturello, current socialist municipal councilor, has a plan: “Building these homes requires finding 2 hectares per year in the city of Nice. We will construct buildings of 3 to 5 stories with everything needed nearby to avoid using a car.”
Around this commendable aim, several structures, new or reformed, will be organized. The Municipal Housing Service will have three roles: centralize the administrative management of needs, manage additional emergency housing for the most disadvantaged, and sell housing to working people at a cost lower than €2500/m² by using the right of preemption and adding an anti-speculative clause on resale. Patrick Allemand hopes to put 200 homes on the market using this method, already implemented in Valbonne. The team of Patrick Allemand wishes to reshape the OPAC Côte d’Azur Habitat. 250 unoccupied apartments will be rehabilitated and put back on the rental market. The criteria for allocation will be redefined to be more transparent. Finally, the apartments will be more adapted to tenants so that a single person does not live in a space meant for four and vice versa. An agreement between the OPAC and the CROUS is planned to facilitate student housing along with the creation of an “eco-responsible housing” label that makes the use of renewable energy mandatory.
Patrick Allemand begins his year by presenting his agenda in a “traditional” domain of the left. He placed his speech in the current context by specifying: “The increase in purchasing power is the responsibility of the State and the government, not the Mayors. But by creating more housing, the prices of private rental rents will drop. Thus, we can influence the purchasing power of the residents of Nice.” Paul Cuturello did not forget to criticize Christian Estrosi: “He has always refused to discuss housing issues for seven years. Now, since he is a candidate, he talks about it. The difference with us is that, he talks. We will act. The departmental authorities do not want to challenge private interests. There is an implicit consensus. They make big speeches but do nothing.”
The campaign is back on. With 60 days before the election, programs are beginning to be revealed with specific points. This Tuesday it was Patrick Allemand, Monday it was Christian Estrosi. Others will follow.
