Burned during urban riots in Brest, the Europe district town hall will reopen in January

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Visit of construction site this Tuesday, December 17, 2024, early in the afternoon at Brest. Elected officials, municipal agents and journalists discover the progress of works made in the Europe district town hall31 rue Saint-Jacques.

The public facility must reopen to the public on Monday January 13, 2025. The 16 agents will reinvest the premises during the week of the 6th to the 11th. The town hall services (relocated to the association house in Pen-ar-Créac’h during the works) will therefore be closed for a week.

Burned during urban riots on the night of Wednesday June 28 to Thursday June 29, 2023 (following the death of young Nahel, killed a few days earlier by police shooting in Nanterre), the building was unusable. Twelve companies took turns during the renovation site the cost of which is estimated at some 813 000 euros. The State must cover a share but, for the moment, the amount of compensation is not yet known.

Reorganized spaces

Let us recall that the rioters had probably gathered and set fire to leaflets in bins placed in front of the main doors which had been previously forced. THE feu had spread in the entrance hall then in the hall, destroyedas part of the reception desks adjacent Smoke and soot had also damaged the first floor.

The work focused on the replacement of the automatic entrance doors and the repair of the airlock, the verification and replacement of the networks (electrical, heating, ventilation) impacted by the fire, the repair of the elevator, the replacement of joinery interior and exterior, part of the floor, false ceilings and insulation. Not forgetting the interior painting throughout the building.

“We took the opportunity to rearrange spacesparticularly in the reception hall where people could be a little lost when they entered, not knowing where to go,” explains Arnaud Botquelen, head of the local town hall.

The town hall dates from 2008, it was necessary to review the logic of flows and reception which was not the same at the time.

On the left as you enter, a space dedicated to citizen participation and to thedigital support was created, the public internet access points (Papi) were repositioned, the reception and civil status area enlarged and redeveloped with a pre-reception and three offices. “All of this was thought up by around thirty Community agents gathered in two working groups. »

“It remains a very bad memory”

François Cuillandremayor of Brest, and Tristan Foveauhis deputy in charge of the Europe district, praised the work carried out. And recalled that “the mobilization of all made it possible to ensure the continuity of the public service, thanks to the transfer to the premises of the association house”.

They also returned to this night of riots from June 28 to 29. “We had several outbreaks of fire in Brest and in this neighborhood. But fortunately, the firefighters quickly arrived on site and were able toavoid drama. Very quickly also in place at the local town hall, they worked to limit the damage. But it burned well. This fire at the town hall is a significant event for residents, like those of Biocoop in the neighborhood, for example. »

When they entered the premises in the morning, they were stunned. “It remains a very bad memory. »

The building, which will therefore open to the public on Monday January 13, 2025 (with the return of the teams from the head office of the Vivre la ville association, those from the multi-service mediation information point-Pimms having been able to return to their premises, less impacted, from August 14, 2023), will be inaugurated during the greetings which are scheduled for Tuesday January 28.

“The town hall services in the Europe district will be closed from the 6th to the 11th for the move/installation. For all services during this period, you will need to go to one of the other local town halls or to town hall. Residents who need to collect their identity documents can go to the Lambézellec district town hall. »

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