On June 26, 2023, shortly before 6 a.m., residents of rue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau in Chinon were pulled from their beds by a commotion. At number 15, the attic floor had just collapsed, bringing with it a beam which damaged the facade of the building. The jamb of a window threatened to fall into the street.
“The construction site had just started, rewinds Jean-Christophe Noublanche, co-manager of Pluvian investments, real estate developer owner of number 15 rue Rousseau. We were in the cleaning phase, we had removed all the unremarkable elements. Paradoxically, we had lightened the structure. »
Since then, if from the outside nothing seems to have changed, inside the construction site has continued its course. “The construction site stopped only on the weakened part”, informs Jean-Christophe Noublanche. After almost a year of battle between experts, work on the damaged facade has just begun and should “ end this summer. »
His group specializes in the restoration of heritage real estate complexes. The co-manager says he is used to unpleasant surprises. “Renovation is not the same hazards as construction, we always discover things during construction sites. From the outside, the disaster may seem impressive, but it is quite common. It’s our first, it’s still minor, it’s just hardware. Even if we could do without it! »
Thirteen luxury apartments delivered in 2025
This project should result in the rehabilitation of thirteen housing units and a commercial unit. A €3 million project. The luxury apartments have already all been sold off plan, even before construction begins. A program which benefits from the Malraux system (which opens up tax reductions for catering in protected areas) and the Action coeur de ville operation.
Public aid which encouraged the group to invest in Chinon, but not only. The manager cites the heritage, the size of the city, the quality of services and the tension of the rental offer. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2025. “The disaster does not cause a delay on the overall schedule. It has an impact, an additional cost, but it is controlled. »
Concerning the inconvenience caused to residents and traders on the street and possible financial compensation, the developer is closing the door. “These claims are not justified. It is a construction site in the city centre, difficult to access. The building was in disrepair, it was leaking air, water, it was in its juices. We are going to transform it into a beautiful property, it will enhance the street. » And the developer goes further and says that the (forced) pedestrianization of the street will have been rather beneficial for traders in terms of flow. We will let those mainly concerned be the judges.
Alexandre Salle
