Included in the urban planning of the Metropolis for about a decade, the development of the Grand Arénas district has taken a new step.
A new milestone was presented by Christian Estrosi as part of the National Interest Operation. The objective is to create a true business center within a living district with the creation of 2,000 housing units, 10,000m² of retail space, but above all 275,000m² of office space, all to accommodate more than 20,000 jobs in what could be the “heart of the largest multimodal hub in Europe.”
To become a district that is alive 24/7, two major facilities must be developed:
- The multimodal exchange hub, which includes the construction of new communication routes such as the Nice Saint Augustin railway station (delivery end of 2021, up to 8 million travelers per year) which will be supplemented by the Nice-Airport station (in 2026) and the bus station (formerly on the green corridor) which will be located under the railway station, whose construction has already begun.
- The new Exhibition and Convention Center (PEC), the project of which will be presented in more detail at the beginning of the year (delivery in 2025).
L’Agence Leclercq Associés takes over the project
The initial sketches were made by the Mateo Arquitectura firm, whose mission had come to an end. Now, François Leclercq takes over for the next nine years in agreement with the new consultation led by the EPA (Public Development Establishment) Nice Eco-vallée.
The arrival of this new architectural firm, which has notably worked in the La Défense district of Paris, will bring a significant touch of greening, a very important notion to the ears of the metropolis president. The percentage of open ground will increase from four to 17 hectares, a much larger green space than its predecessor proposed (which offered 10 ha).
A strong ecological dimension at a time when Christian Estrosi wishes to revive the economy through investment in real estate by leaving “a beautiful architecture of our time” and ecology. On this latter point, they agree that “the car-centric model is over”. Therefore, focus will be on pedestrianization, cycling, or public transportation. In a word, “debtonization is underway.”
