Eure. A fire had ravaged the center which housed its associations, this city will be compensated

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The people of Vernon (Your) most certainly still remember the fire which ravaged the Skills Center in the nuit of Wednesday June 28 to Thursday June 29, 2023.

Urban violence which followed the death of the teenager Nahel, killed by a police officer after refusing to comply, a few days earlier in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine).

Ravaged by flames

This structure, located in the Boutardes district, notably welcomed Restaurants from the heartthe local Mission, the IOC and the associations Alfa, Contact service and J’existence.

And hard blow at the time for the municipality and the hosts of the place, deprived overnight of a place of reception for families.

Indeed, this center enabled the integration of young people into the world of work and was also a central point of solidarity for people in difficulty.

Following “this unprecedented episode of violence”, a claim file was opened by the City with the insurance company Groupama.

Several meetings were organized to establish figures for the damage from the fire.

In view of the complexity of the filethe Galtier insurance expert firm was commissioned to represent the interests of the City during the various expert meetings carried out over more than a year.

Two amounts paid

In the end, after negotiations, a first compensation of 1 223 117,35 euros will be paid to the municipality for the loss linked to the fire.

Furthermore, a second sum of 298 000 euros will be paid for the part of the loss corresponding to vandalism.

This is a positive outcome and the end of a year and a half of negotiations. We are lucky to have Groupama as insurance in this matter.

The question offuture of building was raised during the last municipal council of Friday December 6. “We are not against the rehabilitation of the building but it would cost millions,” explains Jérôme Grenier, first deputy mayor.

And the mayor continued: “In view of the choc and the trauma suffered, do the associations want to return there? The question is not closed.”

For his part, opposition municipal councilor Gabriel Sino (PS) expressed his regret if the building was “abandoned”. “This skills center brought the neighborhood to life. Should we abandon it? »

What future for the building?

According to the mayor, the emergency was first to find accommodation solutions for associations which “have demonstrated a fabulous capacity for adaptation”.

Rehabilitate the building completely? “This is a file that would take us years between thinking about a project, its financing, its construction, its installation and its inauguration. Today, the priority is to support associations on new installation paths,” concludes François Ouzilleau.

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