“Madam President…” is how Christian Estrosi will now have to address Dominique Estrosi-Sassone. She has become the president of Côte d’Azur Habitat. Although the names of Eric Ciotti or Gilbert Stellardo had been whispered, the election of the deputy for housing and urban policy is not a surprise. A coherent election that is highlighted by the mayor of Nice: “It is a strong political signal. It is the first time that the deputy for housing in Nice will preside over the HLM office. Thus, the policy of Côte d’Azur Habitat will be in line with the city’s policy.” Consistency continues with the election of Philippe Pradal as Vice President, a municipal councilor of Nice sub-delegated to finance and public accounts. This consistency extends to the Nice Côte d’Azur Agglomeration Community where Dominique Estrosi-Sassone will take charge of housing.
Comments may be made regarding Dominique Estrosi-Sassonne’s previous delegations. Under the Peyrat municipality, she was already Deputy for Urban Policy and was vice-president of the CANCA in this sector. Christian Estrosi downplays the criticism that was about to emerge: “She has not always been heard in the past.” He targets Jacques Peyrat. And he criticizes Jacques Peyrat when he prioritizes: “We will do social management. This is not how things were considered before.”
A principle announcement but a decision validates it. The headquarters of Côte d’Azur Habitat will be sold. The glass and marble building, with a sea view and near the airport, co-owned by the HLM Office with LOGIAM and the Ibis Hotel, did not reflect the policy of the new board of directors. Christian Estrosi states: “The sale of the headquarters is a requirement. This glass and marble showcase was hardly acceptable. The future headquarters will be more modest, closer to the concerns of the tenants of Côte d’Azur Habitat. It will be located at the heart of the difficulties.”
Other measures are a priority: hiring 150 caretakers, rapid response service with a green number, installation of video surveillance. Access to property, a main objective of the government, will also be prioritized. 10% of the homes will be sold to tenants. Last decision: other social landlords will be able to manage homes on a site previously exclusively labeled “Côte d’Azur Habitat.”
The presentation of the new board of directors allowed Christian Estrosi to adjust his electoral promises. He fine-tunes his schedule. First, his team will identify vacant housing and vacant land owned by the city of Nice. Then, there will be a need to rehabilitate unoccupied and unhealthy housing. This work will be carried out jointly with the CANCA and Côte d’Azur Habitat, hence the coherence of the presidency of Dominique Estrosi Sassone. She reflects on the objectives: “Currently, Côte d’Azur Habitat produces 100 to 120 homes a year. We are not in a position to amplify this production. We do not have the human resources to develop all this overnight. We must first rehabilitate before building.” Christian Estrosi mentions the campaign promise of building 1500 social housing units per year: “It will be generally respected. There will be 1200 to 1500 social housing units under construction in 2009. We need to first clear the necessary land, rehabilitate old buildings, and equip ourselves with legal tools to take care of the 60,000 vacant housing units in the Alpes Maritimes and 20,000 in Nice.” Dominique Estrosi Sassonne adds to justify the immediate non-construction of social housing: “It takes 18, 24, or even 36 months to build.” Let’s take note. A review will therefore have to be drafted in 36 months.
