A luxury hotel on the site of the Convent of the Visitation, which stands at the bottom of Castle Hill in a sorry state? Why not!
The Perseus group, led by financier Valéry Grego, who is already involved in the hotel business in the Alps and in Paris and its surroundings, will be the investor carrying out the project.
The City of Nice, which owns the premises, will lease them for 90 years in exchange for a total fee of just over 30 million, averaging about 300,000 euros per year. It’s not a huge sum, but as they say in such cases, better a little something than nothing…
One could just point out to the municipal negotiators that indexing the fee, as is customary, would have preserved its monetary value which, in 90 years’ time… will certainly have been significantly eroded by inflation.
A discreet boost for the investor?
To better understand the scope and impact of the operation, one must consider that Perseus will have to finance around 40 million for the restructuring, renovation, and development of the complex.
However, even when the sky is a deep blue, there can always be a small cloud on the horizon…
Currently, the Saint Michel Archange association, a biblical name that qualifies itself, occupies a small part of the site with a 50-year lease signed in 2007.
Here is the small pebble that could block this large operation because transforming the Convent of the Visitation implies relocating the current occupant (the said association) to another place with a different lease that municipal services have identified at 12 rue Caffarelli (premises known as Villa Blanche).
Until now, everything seems clear and logical, it’s the follow-up that becomes messy.
Let’s quote councillor Marc Concas (DvG) during last Friday’s City Council session: “The resolution informs us that the building, which for a long time housed various municipal services, would be allocated to the sole association of St-Michel Archange, about which I doubt they will make daily use of this 450 m2 villa.”
And he raises a more than legitimate question: “Does the activity of this association justify allocating the entire building, especially since we learn that the city will proceed with various improvements at a cost of 200,000 euros and grant a 41-year lease [the number of years remaining], with a monthly fee of 500 euros for a 450 m2 building.”
But who is this association and what activity justifies the city council’s indulgence towards it?
According to common sources, the association has been active since 1997, with the aim of “developing the research of traditions and philosophies that led to the foundation of European civilizations.”
Should we believe that these large and semi-free spaces with the evocative name (Villa Blanche) will promote the circulation of ideas and allow the “archangels” to better brainstorm on such important topics?
Let’s stop here because even naivety has its limits. When we exceed them, we fall into stupidity.
