A situational briefing was held on-site on Thursday, December 7, by Christian Estrosi and the specially mobilized sub-prefect, Luc Ankri.
Dating back to the 1850s, the former Saint-Roch hospital in downtown Nice is a distant memory. Located in the heart of the town, the establishment is about to undergo a complete renovation to become a police headquarters. This large police station, “unique in Europe” according to Christian Estrosi, will bring together 2,000 law enforcement officers in an ultra-modern environment.
This is a source of satisfaction for the mayor of Nice, who has been battling over this project since 2009 amid changing governments: “Can you imagine this place being squatted in all directions, with everything that can be imagined? This neighborhood would have declined, its heritage would have lost value, people would have moved elsewhere, and new populations would have come to settle. That’s why we said we had to do something.”
Where are the works at?
220 million euros. That’s the estimated cost of the project, which will conclude by December 2025. Largely funded by the State, it will allow national and municipal police officers to work hand in hand, with, among others, Intelligence and border protection. It should also be noted that the overall structure will replace the Foch police station and the large municipal police headquarters in the Libération district.
Launched last April, the deconstruction works of buildings not retained are “almost completed.” The historic facade has been preserved, and the Catholic cross on the pediment, which will remain, has been restored. The asbestos removal, cleaning, and demolition of a fraction of the interior parts are, however, indeed finished.
The next steps
- December 2023: finalization of demolition works
- First half of 2024: continuation of soil reinforcement works
- From the 2nd half of 2024: reconstruction work (foundations and main structure)
- From the 2nd half of 2025: interior finishing works
- December 2025: inauguration of the Hôtel des Polices and Marshall Square
