The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, provided an update on the housing situation in the metropolis following the publication of the 17th report by the Abbé Pierre Foundation.
We also publish a contribution from Paul Cuturello, metropolitan councilor (PS)
The 17th report on substandard housing by the Abbé Pierre Foundation gave a good mark to the city of Nice. To commend this result, Christian Estrosi, deputy mayor and president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, accompanied by Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, deputy in charge of housing, urban renewal, and combating discrimination, invited the press for an update on the housing situation in the Metropolis.
10,000 homes to be created by 2015
The Abbé Pierre Foundation report emphasizes the role of public policies in the fight against the worsening of inadequately housed conditions. With its 11.8% of social housing, Nice should be seen as a poor performer, where the Solidarity and Urban Renewal (SRU) law requires municipalities to have a stock of at least 20% of social housing. This does not account for the new policy of the Local Housing Program (PLH) 2010-2015. This measure sets annual targets for the production of social housing, the rehabilitation of existing homes while facilitating access procedures for all categories of the population. In the long term, this policy should lead to the creation of 10,000 new dwellings by 2015. In 2011, 1,166 rental units were produced, with a total budget of 20 million euros. The goal of 1,268 homes (28 million euros) is on track to be met for 2012.
Promoting social diversity
The other goal, recommended by the Abbé Pierre Foundation report, is to promote social diversity to prevent the “ghettoization” of certain neighborhoods. Once again, Nice Côte d’Azur equips itself with tools to move in this direction:
– Social diversity servitudes in each Local Urban Plan (PLU), which require developers to allocate a portion to rental housing within the construction of new residential buildings. Across the entire Nice Côte d’Azur territory, this is an estimated potential of 7,500 homes, 5,500 of which are social.
– Control of Sales in Future State of Completion (VEFA). This measure prevents bidding up on the sales prices of social housing, capping it at a maximum of 2,500 euros including tax. If the cost exceeds this, the Metropolis no longer provides subsidies to the landlord.
– The “Pass foncier”, implemented at the end of 2010, allows households to purchase a home with assisted accession. Prices are often 30% lower than those on the free market. In 2010, four new housing programs benefited from this system.
– In parallel with this policy of new housing, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis undertakes to renovate the already existing housing stock. Between 2005 and 2017, 500 million euros will be invested in upgrading the most degraded social housing and adapting for people with disabilities.
Student social housing
Finally, special attention is given to student accommodation. From the current 2,657, the number of social housing units should rise to 3,471 by 2014. To achieve this, 203 student accommodations, owned by the CROUS or social landlords, are in progress in the commune: 170 student social housing in Saint Jean d’Angély, 24 accommodations on Reine Jeanne Street, and 9 accommodations at the corner of Gassin / Lesueur. Four other projects, representing 611 apartments, are under study.
