Referendum announced against the city’s purchase of Zep’s house

This summer, the designer Zep put up for sale the 17th century mansion that he has owned in Geneva since 2008. The city of Geneva has shown its interest in acquiring the building located in a magnificent property of 34,000 m2, located between Avenue d’Aïre and the banks of the Rhône. She made an offer around 20 million francs.

According to information from the “Courier”, Tuesday evening, the Geneva Municipal Council accepted the purchase estimated at 21.5 million francs, by 45 votes to 23 no. However, elected officials from the Center, the UDC, the Vert’liberals and the PLR ​​contested this operation, which they consider unnecessary and whose future use remains unclear. “We are in the process of buying for 21.5 million an object which will have no use,” intervened the UDC Vincent Schaller.

Indeed, the assignment of this classified object is not yet clear. Administrative advisor Frédérique Perler clarified: “With such a tight deadline, we did not have time to find assignments compatible with heritage constraints.” But a majority – the left and the MCG – believe it is an “exceptional opportunity” for the city.

But it is probably the people who will have the last word, because opponents have already announced a referendum against this purchase.