Inauguration of the Archimède residence in Valdegour: “Let us talk about Nîmes for its history more than for its districts”, hopes the prefect

Anne-Claire Mialot, the director of Anru, cuts the ribbon with elected officials, the director of Erilia and the prefect. Midi Libre – K. H.

143 renovated housing units in the Le Petit Archimède residence. Midi Libre – K. H.

Completely renovated and insulated, the Archimède residence, which dates from the 1960s and has 143 housing units, was inaugurated this Wednesday by Erilia, the social landlord, the general director of Anru, elected officials from Nîmes and the agglomeration, the sub-prefect and the prefect. Another step in the vast rehabilitation of a priority neighborhood that has long been neglected.

On the concrete slab wet from the drizzle, kids wearing red caps distributed by Erilia line up in front of the cotton candy stand set up there to make the inauguration more festive and less solemn for the residents.

This Wednesday morning, elected officials and elected officials inaugurated the rehabilitation of the Le Petit Archimède residence, two L-shaped buildings, 143 apartments and 15 stairwells, like they did in the sixties.

Thermal renovation labeled

Outside, the facades have been insulated, the joinery changed, sunshades installed on the south side. In front, a children's play area has been created and a few plants brighten up the square, “which brings to mind a village square where people talk to each other”, assures François Nevière, the architect (ADN Architecte firm) who managed the project.

Two L-shaped bars around a forecourt and fifteen stairwells. Midi Libre – K. H.

Moreover, the tenants were involved in the choice of outdoor facilities and leisure areas. Inside, bathrooms, kitchens and toilets have been renovated in each accommodation, the common areas have been embellished.

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“Our program is labeled Bâtiment durable Occitanie argent for energy and thermal savings”, rejoices Frédéric Lavergne, the general manager of Erilia, one of the first social landlords to have set up in the district “to which it is important to give a second life. A physiotherapist and a doctor will be setting up here very soon”, he insists. An €8.23 million project supported by Erilia (€3.20 million), the State (€1 million), Nîmes Métropole (€536,000), Prêts Action Logement (€2.30 million) and loan (€1.10 million).

“lots of hope”

“It's a major renovation. I often come to Nîmes, the projects are progressing and it shows”, rejoiced Anne-Claire Mialot, the general director of Anru “whose aid represents more than €600 million on a city scale”, recalled Julien Plantier, the First Deputy of Nîmes. “These necessary works have been expected for years”. 

The interior of some apartments really needed work. Midi Libre – K. H.

Bathroom, kitchen and toilet have been changed in the apartments. Midi Libre – K. H.

Géraldine Rey-Deschamps, vice-president of Nîmes Métropole, delegate for housing and urban renewal, stressed the importance “of making this district more attractive” while the work will continue: the Pythagore residence, a few hundred meters further, should be demolished between 2025 and 2026.

What is the NPRU ?

The New National Urban Renewal Project (NPRU) is a vast urban rehabilitation program that concerns 126 neighborhoods in France, including 3 priority neighborhoods in Nîmes: Pissevin-Valdegour, Chemin-Bas and Mas de Mingue. The agreement signed in December 2021 with the National Urban Renewal Agency (Anru) provides for the demolition of more than a thousand dilapidated housing units, 50% of which will be rebuilt in Nîmes and 50% in the urban area. In addition, 831 social housing units will be rehabilitated and 713 residentialized and condominiums will also be renovated. In Pissevin-Valdegour, the Anru is providing 100 million euros for a total project of 400 million euros and in the Nîmes urban area 150 million euros. are engaged.

“This renovation raises a lot of hope. But it will only bear fruit if we tackle all the projects: security, access to education, culture, health, employment… My hope is that we finally talk about Nîmes for its history more than for its neighborhoods”, concluded the prefect Jérôme Bonet.

Because behind the beautiful facades, everything is not rosy and residents are already lamenting the unsanitary cellars that are squatted every night.

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