Those in this department who are worried about the future of the center of their city should know: they are not alone in sharing this concern. Until Thursday May 23, at the Palais des Papes in Avignon, dozens of elected officials from France, state agents, territorial civil servants are gatheredbut also representatives of trades in commerce, hospitality, construction, town planning, culture… Objective: to maintain the attractiveness and their character as the heart of life.
From Tuesday evening, as a preamble to these 18e At the national conference in the city center, the delegates had the opportunity to discover the restitution of a survey* which they will be able to use during their reflections. The City of Avignon, which does not hide its keen interest in this event, invited them to take note of the conclusions of the 9e Barometer of the city center and businesses, produced by the CSA institute (Consumer Science & Analytics). Its aim is to measure residents’ perception of their city center as well as their aspirations regarding its development.
At the end of the restitution of the survey on the perception of city centers, a debate began between Jacques Chantillon, deputy general director of Cityz Media, Dominique Consille, director of the City Heart Action and Small Towns programs. tomorrow, Cécile Helle, Mayor of AvignonPhilippe Laurent, mayor of Sceaux, president of Centre-Ville en Mouvement and Francis Palombipresident of the Confederation of French Traders.
64% of French people love their city center
In 2024, attachment to and use of city centers is on the rise and 64% of those questioned express this feeling (21% express a great attachment while only 10% indicate their disinterest in city centers). However, it should be noted that this attachment varies depending on the category of urban area: the larger the cities, the stronger the expression of attachment. In the provinces, in towns with more than 100,000 inhabitants, it goes up to 78%. And in Paris, it even concerns 91% of the population.
Logically, attendance, which is also on the rise, therefore goes hand in hand with attachment to the city center: 72% say they will visit their city center at least once a week in 2024 (plus 2% compared to last year). And this rate rises to 80% among those under 35 and up to 83% among executives.
The investigation also questioned the reason for the lack of interest among those who neglect city centers. We would have suspected it a little, but the responses confirm it: the lack of interest is mainly due to the feeling of a lack of attractiveness of businesses, difficulties of access (transport and traffic) and parking. It prevents, the survey notes that the share of those who go to the city center least often (30%) had never been so low since 2016.
Residents’ priorities
According to those interviewed, the priorities of city centers must be given: the revitalization of local shops, the safety of goods and people, parking, access to health, the living environment/environment, cleanliness, public transport…
Useful clarification, this survey was carried out thanks to Centre-Ville en Mouvement, the association of elected officials and their organizing partners of the National Conference of the city center which is taking place this year in Avignon, and in perfect coordination with the Action Plan heart of the city, the Heart of the City Action plan. These entities aim to facilitate and support the work of local authorities, to encourage housing and town planning stakeholders to reinvest in city centers, to encourage the maintenance or establishment of activities in the heart of the city. in order to improve living conditions in medium-sized cities.
Three days of National Conference in the city center in Avignon
In the light of this investigation and at the end of three days of exchanges and intense reflections, many themes will have been debated. And this, during workshops or conferences led by specialists in the field. Example this Wednesday morning, where culture and its impacts in the city center were discussed, as well as commercial and artisanal diversity as part of taking into account consumer developments and trends.
The transformation and use of buildings as well as the challenges of city entrances were also on the menu this Wednesday.
As to closing Thursday, it will see debate on the warming of city centers which, as we know perfectly well in Avignon, do not escape climatic upheavals, but likewise mobility issues.
* Survey between February 15 and 28 of a national sample of 2,825 French people aged 18 and over (including 747 residents of municipalities participating in the Action Cœur de Ville program),
