Cn Thursday, December 19, the Chartrons-Grand-Parc-Jardin public neighborhood council was coming to an end. Stéphane Pfeiffer's announcement was unexpected to say the least. “We were informed in mid-November that Ville Envie was withdrawing from the project,” declared the deputy mayor of Bordeaux in charge of resilient urban planning, the public housing service and the social and solidarity economy to the residents gathered since 6:30 p.m. at the Grand-Parc village hall.
The project in question concerned the requalification of the Europe shopping center, located in the heart of the Grand-Parc. This restructuring, almost a metamorphosis, was entrusted in 2021 to this real estate company specializing in commercial urban planning, in partnership in particular with BNP Paribas Immobilier. It included the construction of 277 housing units, 35% of which were intended for social home ownership, the construction of a silo car park and a repositioning of businesses, including an Auchan supermarket.
“All unhappy”
“We have to stop a project, we are all unhappy about it,” confirms Sébastien Favant, the founding manager of Ville Envie, a company focused specifically on this commercial dimension. “Between 2019, the year we started working on the subject, and 2024, there was approximately a 30% increase in work costs. » A phenomenon that he links to the rise in material prices, also linked to inflation. “Given current economic conditions, there is no longer any economic balance,” he notes. In the meantime, quite a few businesses have closed too. Our job is really to develop local businesses. This global project on a neighborhood scale interested me enormously. He was close to our hearts. It made sense. It was bringing life back to a neighborhood. It was to recreate a link with the park. This is an abandonment of the file which does not make us happy. » The building permit had been issued, but it was currently blocked by the appeal of a collective called “Urbanité au Grand Parc”.
“Between 2019, the year we started working on the subject, and 2024, there was approximately a 30% increase in work costs”
With, in addition, the rise in interest rates, we have been hearing for a while that the real estate situation is not at its best in France. The local residents present had a striking illustration of this. “The project as you know it will not happen,” continued Stéphane Pfeiffer to the neighborhood council. We have been working hard for a month to imagine what the sequel could be. »
By summer
Before “considering a larger project”, the municipality has already looked at the short term. “The shopping center is in poor condition, so we cannot leave it like that,” considers the elected official. An inventory of vacant commercial cells is underway, with a view to “identifying the work necessary to upgrade them and re-let them”. The three which were damaged by a fire in 2018 will be demolished, which was already planned by the real estate project made obsolete by the withdrawal of one of the actors, reason why they had not been rehabilitated.
From the first week of January, residents, traders and associations will be consulted to find out their needs and wishes “in terms of commercial offer”. A public meeting will be held for this purpose at the end of January or beginning of February. The next step is planned for March. A call for expressions of interest will be launched, addressed to traders, associations or companies that may be interested in these premises which are subject to work – painting and upgrading to electrical standards for example – called to be completed “in June or July”.
Concerning the future of this space in the longer term, ideas for reflection were projected on the room's giant screen on Thursday evening. Scenario 1: “Major restructuring of the shopping center”. Scenario 2: “Demolition/reconstruction of the shopping center”. These options would be financed “only” with public money, or “almost” entirely. Scenario 3: “Mixed program”. The choice will also depend on the cost estimate.
Could there still be a component of new housing? “We will see what comes out of the consultation,” says Stéphane Pfeiffer. “We will have to put back a medical office, I completely agree with you,” he replied to a resident.
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