In Firminy in the Loire, the Corbusier building, classified as a historic building, no longer has a caretaker. The latter was transferred at the request of the social landlord. Residents are worried about deterioration of the building.
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600 inhabitants, and a historic building without surveillance. Since the beginning of January 2025, the Corbusier housing unit in Firminy, in the Loire, no longer has a caretaker. A departure which worries the occupants of the most famous building in the Saint-Etienne metropolis.
“OIt feels a bit like we're going to be left to our own devices, that the building is no longer going to be guarded. We had this gentleman who managed everything that had to be managed in terms of maintenance, trash cans, green spaces” testifies Fred Coutarel, owner in the building for a year and a half.
Same concern for Diego Ibars, tenant and son of the former caretaker. “If you look from the outside, you see seven floors, but in fact they are duplexes. Some apartments are descending, others upright. So if a fire breaks out on one floor for example, it is very complicated to know where it is actually located from the outside, when you don't know the building.“ he says.
A work on one of the walls of Corbusier's housing unit. The building is classified as a historic monument.
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© FTV
His father looked after the building for nine years, before the social landlord, Habitat et Métropole, does not decide to transfer it to another building. Despite the mobilization of residents for several months, the guard finally had to leave his position.
Fabrice Brault has lived in the housing unit for almost 20 years, and is president of the residents' association. He noted the deterioration in the maintenance of the building. “It is a heresy. I think that a building with nearly 600 inhabitants needs a caretaker. Especially since we are a high-rise building, therefore high-rise open to the public. There are obligations which today are not respected” regrets this resident.
A survey posted in the building on January 24, 2025. Residents are noticing more and more damage.
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© FTV
Since the departure of the guard, cleaning has been entrusted to an outside company. A response that does not suit the association, which regularly welcomes visitors.
When we have visits, the goal is to show a fairly clean building. It's important to have people who feel invested in the place, who are attached to the place.
Fabrice Brault, president of the residents' association
Contacted by telephone, the Vendin management company, in charge of the building, said it was looking for a candidate to replace the former caretaker. A security PC is in the works.
