The General Council, under the impetus of its president, decided to intensify its intervention policy in sensitive neighborhoods, which Christian Estrosi prefers to call “priority areas”. This policy revolves around two main focuses: urban planning and social cohesion.
Urban Planning
Once again, the President of the General Council emphasized the involvement of the Alpes-Maritimes in urban policy, especially since the signing of city contracts and goal agreements by the department. The priority of this action: housing. The President of the General Council explains this choice: “Today, at a time when we are paying dearly for past mistakes in urban planning, I believe the essential approach is to first act on housing.”
Thanks to the Urban Policy Programming and Planning Law of August 1, 2003, local authorities have acquired new intervention tools. The minister will also soon propose to his colleagues at the General Council the approval of a convention that would unlock 10 million euros per year to carry out these projects. With the support of the National Agency for Urban Renovation, Christian Estrosi has launched various renewal projects until 2015, especially in Grasse or in Nice in the Pasteur, Ariane, or Moulins neighborhoods. For these, the final goal is to restructure and open them up to make them more attractive and contributors to the development of the city of Nice.
Pasteur Neighborhood in Nice
The urban project integrates that of the tramway and the hospital. Its purpose is to improve the operation of the neighborhood. Part of the HLM park will be demolished and rehabilitated to allow the neighborhood to open up, the reclamation of the bases of buildings, the requalification, and the creation of public spaces.
Ariane Neighborhood in Nice
The main interventions will focus on the relocation of 285 families in partnership with five social landlords, the demolition of 454 housing units, and the construction of 380, as well as the rehabilitation of 351 of them (Heures claires, Nouveaux logis d’azur).
Cité des Moulins Neighborhood in Nice
The challenge is to connect the Moulins neighborhood to various projects planned on the lower Var valley (multimodal station, Nice Méridia, TSCP). It aims to open it to its environment by proceeding with its urban decongestion and linking it to the city.
Historic Center of Grasse
The goal is to successfully achieve the sustainable conversion of troubled neighborhoods in the center, to reposition them in a balanced development dynamics. The social ambition of this project is to put an end to the partial ghetto state particularly characterizing the old center. Notably by significantly improving social diversity and the quality of life of the residents.
An Effort in Favor of “Priority” Neighborhoods
This policy focused on improving urban planning and living environment led by the General Council will be accompanied by a massive effort in favor of sensitive neighborhoods. It will be organized around three major themes: promoting employment by supporting associative and individual initiatives, placing equity at the heart of daily life, and encouraging innovative associative projects.
To promote employment, Christian Estrosi plans to establish a social inclusion clause. It will require companies to commit to reserving a share of working hours for inclusion efforts. The President of the General Council also advocates the use of microcredit to encourage business creation. An envelope of 100,000 euros is dedicated to this initiative. He also proposes funding at least 100 new jobs for young people aged 16 to 25 residing in priority neighborhoods. In addition to this last approach, the Minister of Territorial Development plans to provide associations in these neighborhoods with 200 computers.
Several actions aim to return to equal opportunities. Mr. Estrosi has committed to generalize school support for struggling middle school students, doubling the share of credits allocated to this function. He also wants all young people to have access to vacations, sports, leisure, and culture. Notably through the creation of eponymous vouchers allowing the purchase of books or CDs, cinema tickets, or concert tickets, etc.
The President of the General Council also places associations at the center of his policy. He desires today to initiate a call for innovative projects around five themes: employment, training, academic success support, sports and cultural activities, and the promotion of social cohesion. This call aims to encourage, incite, and support citizen initiatives through associations in priority neighborhoods.
At least twenty projects will be selected by an examination committee, composed of representatives from the departmental services and chaired by an elected official. All of this within the framework of an annual envelope of 500,000 euros. Proposals, whose project cost must not exceed 50,000 euros, must be sent to the General Council before March 15, 2007.
