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Emma Grivotte
Published on
Nov. 6, 2024 at 5:25 p.m.
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Follow The Awakening of Pont-Audemer
The idea of transforming the “little theater” of Pont-Audemer (Eure) as a shopping hall was born about a year and a half ago. “I listed this project among the priorities when I became mayor,” says Alexis Darmois.
It is a symbolic building, due to its location and its architecture, and it will help revitalize the city center.
With a surface area of 1,200 m2the building, a legacy of industrial paternalism (read the box), is located a few meters from the Risle, on the Place du Général-de-Gaulle.
It is made of a wooden frame clad in beams. So the bricks he lost because of deterioration in recent decades, by squatters wanting to enter the abandoned place, do not necessarily call into question its stability.
A former Costil tanners’ village hall
The building nicknamed “little theater” was originally a village hall that the industrialist René Costil had built for the workers of his tannery factory and their families, as explained by Anne-Sophie Oberson, director of the Pont-Audemer tourist office. “Madame Costil organized snacks and shows for the workers’ children,” she explains. It was at the time of industrial paternalism, that is to say that the company organized the social life of its employees.
Over time, the building, having lost its initial use, housed a taxidermist, then a squash hall, and “it has no longer had a purpose since the beginning of the century,” says Mayor Alexis Darmois.
In any case, the name “small theater” is confusing, as Anne-Sophie Oberson points out, suggesting “that theatrical activity took place here before being at the Théâtre de l'Éclat”. Now, there was actually another theater before the Éclat. It was destroyed by bombing in World War II.
Studies in progress
However, studies are underway to ensure its solidity, or even observe the presence of asbestos. The State, the Region and the Department financially support the studies, included in the contract of Small towns of tomorrow, up to 50%.
The project itself is costed at 1.9 million euros. The Region and Department have already committed to supporting it via the territory contract, each to the tune of €400,000.
But government budget cuts cast doubt on these subsidies. “ The Region seeks to save money and could reduce the aid already allocated. This is a discussion that will have to be had,” indicates the mayor, however confident: “This is one of his priorities because it promotes short circuits and rehabilitates a wasteland. »
For which traders?
If the hall project comes to fruition, it will accommodate a permanent market offer, notably because “people who work cannot go to the market”, explains the mayor.
A major challenge will be to “not to compete with existing merchantsby offering a differentiated offer, based around short circuits.”
Concerning the number of exhibitors, “it will depend on their sizes, but they could be a little dozen.”
The town hall also wants the place to have several uses: hosting exhibitions, events such as sessions on eating well for children, and that it contains tasting areas. If possible, the idea is to create a large mezzanine.
A restaurant in the farmhouse?
The city also acquired the half-timbered farmhouse adjacent and wants to integrate it into the project by developing a catering offer: restaurant, tea room, tavern… “When we see the success of the tavern this summer…”, supports Florence Gautierdeputy mayor in charge of economic development.
On the square on the edge of Risle, the ephemeral drinking establishment “made it possible to measure the attraction of the population for this place, which has been unused for years”.
The City has launched its specifications to recruit project management assistance. She works with a architect of the Buildings of France in order to preserve the identity of the place.
Work will begin next year, if it is in good condition.
In the event that the small theater was deemed dangerous, it could be destroyed, but the idea of a hall would remain for the building that would replace it.
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