In the midst of a requalification phase for several years, the Ariane district began a new phase of work yesterday, symbolized by the start of the demolition of the Paillon 4 tower.
On one side, a deliberately abandoned tower, devoid of windows and any trace of past life. On the other, a huge orange metal arm with an excavator at its end. The battle begins, and the tower offers no resistance, starting to disassemble little by little.
“It’s a technique of ‘nibble demolition’,” said Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, Senator and Deputy Mayor of Nice in charge of Housing. In the presence of Christian Estrosi, first deputy mayor of Nice, as well as Rudy Salles, Deputy Mayor of Nice in charge of Tourism, and Fatima Khaldi, the Paillon 4 tower began to give way under the battering of its executioner.
Blows that are expected to last “throughout the summer”, according to Dominique Estrosi-Sassone. “The disappearance of the building will allow the place des Sitelles to open onto the Paillon and thus begin the redevelopment of the banks.” This demolition marks the beginning of phase 2 of the requalification work in the Ariane district.
Phase II of the renovation project also includes a rehabilitation program for Côte d’Azur Habitat residences (of which Dominique Estrosi-Sassone is also president) located along the banks (towers Paillon 1 to 3 and 5 to 7), a partial redevelopment of the Boulevard de l’Ariane, and the creation of the Anatole France parking lot (73 spaces created by the end of 2017).
The Paillon 4 tower, owned by Côte d’Azur Habitat, dated from 1970. It was composed of 96 social housing units spread over 16 floors. The relocation of the families residing in tower 4 was carried out between late 2012 and was completed in 2015, with the majority of families being relocated within the Ariane district. The total cost of demolishing the Paillon 4 tower amounts to nearly 1,500,000 euros.
Since 2007, the Ariane district has benefited from a comprehensive requalification operation structured in two phases. The first phase focuses on the St Pierre block, around Emile Ripert, Anatole de Monzie, Jouhaux, and Château St Pierre streets.
As for phase 2, it primarily concerns the so-called Paillon perimeter, which includes the various towers owned by Côte d’Azur Habitat, as well as the recently started destruction of tower 4.
