Shortened city council meeting this Thursday, October 26. There was barely enough time for the majority and the opposition to debate the Gare du Sud project. Also on the agenda: the creation of a national information center on radicalization and terrorism, as well as the issue of bicycle-taxis.
A morning was enough to pass the nearly twenty deliberations scheduled for the agenda. An appetizer, so to speak, in anticipation of the city council on November 13, 2017, which will serve as the main course. However, even though the session was quick, it was not uninteresting.
Among the presented files, the Gare du Sud project attracted the most attention. It was precisely because of it that the agenda “was a bit rushed, to avoid wasting time if we wanted the presented project to be offered to the people of Nice by the last quarter of 2018,” revealed the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, who has always made Gare du Sud one of his priorities since his election in 2008.
The deliberation confirmed the selection of Banimmo France as the winner of the call for projects, granting it a 45-year emphyteutic lease. In return, the company will invest 11,125,000 euros in the structure and pay an annual fee (rent) of 195,000 euros. A choice and figures that did not please the opposition.
Firstly, Olivier Bettati (My Party is Nice) expressed surprise at the choice of Banimmo. Despite the company’s strong experience in this field, the councilor cast doubt on its reliability “on July 27, 2017, the Banimmo group presented its consolidated results: 15.5 million euros in sales for 4.4 million euros in net losses… The newspaper Les Echos wrote an article about this result and estimated that even if it reduced its net loss by half compared to last year, it could not yet be said that Banimmo had left intensive care.”
For Patrick Allemand (Another Future for Nice), while the project seems interesting for the people of Nice, it is “the financial setup that calls for reflection, because honestly, the conditions are not very favorable to the city.” He is puzzled by two points: the sum invested “usually investments range between 15 and 40 million euros, why only 11 million euros in Nice?” and the amount of the fee “it is 195,000 euros, which means 16,250 euros monthly. That is not expensive. It is also 8% less than France Domaine’s estimation attached to the file, which is 212,000 euros. This implies that the negotiation is unfavorable to the city.”
The ecologists (EELV) asked for information about the environmental standards of the project, while Dominique Boy-Mottard (Radicals and Various Left) complained about the method used by the majority to present the file.
The response to all these remarks was swift. Particularly through Christian Tordo, who emphasized that no one questioned the quality of the project. Nevertheless, he regretted “criticism that does not measure up. Simply there to oppose.” The deputy in charge of the economy justified the choice of Banimmo, the only company that “accepted to take on all the financial risks.” From his point of view, the investment of 11 million euros is, in contrast, substantial.
An argument supported by Christian Estrosi “it is only for the mezzanine and kiosks construction. There is no need to make the same investments as in other places. And 11 million euros for interior development is an extremely heavy investment.”
Another grievance dismissed: the rent. “It is 8% below France Domaine’s estimates, but it factors in the investments made and the area’s animation, seven days a week, day and night, that the project plans. Moreover, it stays within the administration’s negotiation margin of 10%,” explains Christian Tordo.
The mayor of Nice also recalled that in this marriage with Banimmo, the City would always have a say. “In case of resale by Banimmo during the 45-year lease term, the City must agree on the buyer, who must commit to taking over and operating the location under the same conditions as Banimmo.” Ultimately, the deliberation was indeed voted by the whole chamber except for the two radical councillors.
A national research center on the problematic consequences of terrorism
Among the other topics reviewed during this city council was the notable creation of a new research center. “Anne Murris, Cindy Pellegrini, and Seloua Sensi from the Promenade des Anges association made it known that they wanted the City of Nice to support them in creating a place that would be both an information and documentation center on terrorism and a space where the victims of the July 14 attack would be honored,” announced Christian Estrosi, “our duty is to support them. I wished to respond favorably to this proposal by calling on a consulting firm to find its location, name, and the necessary size for its influence.”
And while the opposition started mentioning themes of prevention and deradicalization, the official preferred to shut them down by going into detail. “We agreed with the President of the Republic and with the victims together that it would be a national center, a resource and research hub, linked to academic research, medical studies… etc.” He then gave an example of what it might study: “What are the long-term consequences of an attack like the Bataclan on a child’s development, five, ten, fifteen years later? We are not focusing on deradicalization but on consequences: on the economy, social cohesion, on scientific aspects.” This new space could host expressions of solidarity deposited at the Music Kiosk following the 2016 attack.
End of anarchy for bicycle-taxis?
The increase in the number of “bicycle-taxis” (three-wheeled bicycles) swarming in the Azure capital for months forced the city council to better regulate the activity. This is why a deliberation adopted the principle of a competitive tendering process for granting public domain occupation authorizations.
In practice, this deliberation will allow “as early as next spring, authorizing only one or two companies to operate this activity in the public space under precise rules.” In total, seven stops have been chosen and distributed throughout the city’s touristic area (two at Place Masséna, rue Biscarra, traverse de la Bourgada, two at Place Garibaldi, and Quai Papacino). A call for competition will soon be launched in the press and on the city’s website with a specific specifications booklet.
The opposition welcomed this decision. “Our group drew your attention to the total anarchy prevailing in the cycle-taxi activity via a letter I sent you on June 15, 2017, to which your first deputy Philippe Pradal replied on July 28 that you were working on the issue. I outlined the reasons leading to real unfair competition between those who complied with European regulations and those who did not. We will therefore vote in favor of this deliberation with both hands,” announced Patrick Allemand.
Dominique Boy-Mottard echoed the sentiment, “regarding the occupation of public space by three-wheeled cycles, it is not false to note that they sometimes do whatever they like and scams had been reported. And I wondered why nothing seemed to be done to improve things. This deliberation is therefore welcome, and we will vote for it.”
We just have to wait for November 13 for the follow-up…
