the extended city contract

It extends until 2030 with the aim of giving a new future to the most important district of Saint-Dizier, Vert-Bois. Four priorities were identified. Review of details.

The City Contract between the Agglomeration and the State ended on December 31, 2023. It has just been renewed for the period 2024-2030. A key moment for city policy and the inhabitants of the Vert-Bois district. Indeed, considerable sums are being committed to meet a very ambitious objective. “City policy aims to reduce development gaps within cities. It aims to restore republican equality in the poorest neighborhoods, to improve the living conditions of their inhabitants, who suffer from unemployment and school dropout rates higher than elsewhere, and difficulties in accessing services and care, in particular”, indicates the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion on its website.

“Restoring Republican equality in the poorest neighborhoods”

Since 1995, no less than 250 million euros have been invested in the Vert-Bois district. Nearly 4,000 homes have either been demolished, built or rehabilitated. With its 6,360 inhabitants, Vert-Bois still remains the “fourth town of Haute-Marne” and obviously the most important district of Saint-Dizier. So the stakes are considerable. Four priorities have been identified for this new contract.

The first is attached to the living environment which is intended “pleasant and secure”. Urban transformation should continue even if the most significant part has already been done. The big part concerns the shopping center, which today looks like a wasteland. An impression of emptiness emerges from Vert-Bois today because of the numerous demolitions of buildings. The idea would be to fill this void with convivial spaces (play areas for children, squares for adults) which “would link the neighborhood and encourage meetings”. A project for a community café, a sports hall and the establishment of year-round events (carnival, neighbors’ party, etc.) are also planned.