Patrick bought his apartment for more than a million euros in 2022. Since the 11e floor of the tower of the former Caisse d'Épargne, ideally located at the northwest corner of Place de la Liberté, the 360-degree view of Toulon and the harbor is extraordinary.
But the panorama is indeed one of the rare services faithful to what was praised, to the presentation of this residence proudly named Visio. And to list his problems with shutters, parking doors, corrosion on the balconies, infiltration…
“We rather call it the infernal tower”grumbles this tenant we meet, with a black look, in the elevator. “Even in the hall, there are lots of small defects”plague Corinne, who welcomes us to her second home at 8e floor, where his mother also lives for a good part of the year.
Much more annoying: after an air conditioning breakdown that lasted all summer – “my 90-year-old mother suffered a continuous temperature of 35 degrees!” – hot water has no longer flowed from the tap since… October 4.
“The heat pump is broken and cannot be repaired”confirms Jean-Marie, resident of the 7th floor. “Result: nothing works anymore even though centralized air conditioning and heating were sold to us as a luxury service. Since last month, because of leaks on the supply columns, we also have to wash in a pan! It's official: the building is unsanitary.”
No hot water or heating… and shutters flying away
Originally, nothing predestined the tower of the former Caisse d'Épargne, designed by Alfred Henry and built in 1969, to create so much discontent among its occupants. Quite the contrary.
Awarded the Remarkable Contemporary Architecture label, it housed TPM services from 2003 to 2013 on the ground floor and first floor, before Altarea-Cogedim launched a major renovation project there.
Between 2017 and 2020, the developer invested nearly 40 million euros to build eighteen luxury apartments here, in the forty meter high building.
The operation also included, in two other adjoining buildings, around thirty housing units and offices, a four-star hotel and a brasserie.
Enough to provoke, upon delivery of the real estate program, the applause of the public authorities in front of this flamboyant “Metropolitan” – its nickname – of glass and steel.
A story that makes Corinne jump today. “We have the impression that a lot of things are of poor quality”she explains. “Our roller shutters, for example, are not suited to the wind. The other day, the mistral blew them off their tracks and into shreds. They could have decapitated someone down there!”
Downstairs is Chez le Brasseur, a nice restaurant in the city center. He was recently the victim of water damage… because of yet another plumbing problem with his upstairs neighbors.
“Some residents are afraid to go down to the garage”
Under fire from criticism, the trustee, Foncia, says “every effort is made to resolve the issues as quickly as possible”. Forty-eight individual water heaters will be installed temporarily.
A legal expert must be appointed to recommend a means of restoring the domestic hot water supply to the building. And establish a scale of responsibilities.
Contacted, the designer of VisioCogedim, ensures for its part that “this disaster is in no way linked to a structural or design defect of the building, but to a failure of equipment elements whose origin must be revealed by the expertise”. Not really enough to appease the anger of the co-owners.
“There are other recurring malfunctions”continues Henri, on the third floor. “The car park door is still broken, stuck in the open position, with recurring problems from nighttime squatters.” Jean-Marie acquiesce: “Cars have been damaged. Now, some residents are afraid to go down to the garage”.
Corinne is preparing to take a plane back to Chicago, where she mainly lives. With a heavy heart. “It’s difficult to leave my mother in this situation. We’re still talking about a residence that’s supposed to be high-end and eco-responsible.”
She sighs: “We bought our apartment, off plan, for 750,000 euros, before carrying out major renovation work. Obviously, it wasn't the idea of the century…”
