Through Anne-Sophie Hourdeaux
Published on
–
–
–
The numbers are impressive: 15 hectares, 1,000 homes, 3,500 new inhabitants. the new district emerging in Wattrelos, said theHippodrome, will completely reshape the heart of the city.
Ideally located
We are a few steps from the town hall, and right in front of the Lion Park. An ideal situation, which seduced: there are hardly any homes left to buy. The site should be completed in 2027. Let’s see what the set will look like. While waiting for college and the tram!
Work on the future racetrack district began in September 2019. The first inhabitants will arrive at the end of October 2021, then others in the summer of 2022.
In all, nearly 4,000 new Wattrelosians will live in this new district within 5 years. A pharaonic construction site!
New streets have been built to develop this area and make the passages more fluid, such as rue Arnaud Beltrame. The old street of the slaughterhouse is now called rue de l’Hippodrome.
Several cranes are on site. The 3 and 4-storey buildings emerged from the ground on 2 blocks: Basanos and St Liévin, made of bricks of different colors. The internal revegetation of the islets was one of the criteria for the well-being of the inhabitants.
The developer of the site, SEM Ville Renouvelée, called on several real estate developers: Duval, Neoximo, Promogim, Pichet.
A doctor and a dentist
A doctor and a dentist will set up in two cells of 80 m2 each on rue de l’Hippodrome.
The building closest to the entrance to the park is managed by the Duval real estate group, with 62 housing units, 17 of which are social. With two particularities: a commercial ground floor of 3 cells, and a terraced construction, with green spaces open to the ground on the roof!
Each manages a lot of several dozen to 150 homes. The choice was made of mixed housing. Of the 1000 housing units in total, there is access to property, rental housing, social housing (30%), simple home ownership (20%).
Can I still book my accommodation?
As for the sale of apartments, it’s almost complete. There are less than a dozen homes left to buy. We must get closer to each promoter. But you should know that there are still two blocks of 400 housing units that remain to be built.
For rentals, there are still possibilities since the social landlords have not yet opened the files. The housing units concerned will be ready by summer 2022. You must therefore contact LMH, SIA Habitat, CDC Habitat, Maisons et Cités and Partenord.
—
Dominique Baert, the mayor, said he was happy to see this vast project move forward, which took more than 20 years to see the light of day. “In 2000, we made a cruel diagnosis of our city center: a cramped square and banks and real estate agencies which reduce the attractiveness”.
The industrial wasteland of St-Liévin too, following the tragedy of 2013
At the time, the Lille Urban Community approved the renovation of the city center. In 2004, an economic cataclysm hit the city, with the closure of the St-Liévin factory. “It was therefore necessary from now on to include this industrial wasteland in the requalification because it is located in the city center. But it took a long time. In 2006-2008, film shoots took place on the site of the old factory, giving the idea of creating a vast filming location. But the project was not able to last ”.
In 2013, it is the tragedy. “On Mother’s Day, I was told that 4 young people who entered the wasteland died in a fire. This is the worst of my memories as mayor. We had to act urgently because now we knew that an industrial wasteland in the city center was dangerous. This changed things up ”recalls the mayor.
This district of the Hippodrome is a source of pride: “It is here that the heart of the city will beat and for a long time to come”.
And also…
And it’s not over. Because the district should not be completed until 2027. We are therefore only halfway through the overall project.
Two islets on the Saint-Liévin side. There is still a part of the St Liévin wasteland which must accommodate buildings. “400 to 500 housing units are still to be built,” points out Véronique Buret, head of the SEM’s planning department. 80 concern Vilogia and LMH for social housing. The start of the work will undoubtedly begin at the end of 2021.
Desks. They are planned in the former office section of the St Liévin spinning mill, rue Edouard Vaillant.
Businesses. On the ground floor of the building located closest to the entrance to the park, there are 3 commercial cells. Which businesses will set up? It is too early to tell, nothing has been decided. But Dominique Baert was clear: there is no question whether it is banks! “I can clearly see a terrace café-restaurant, because the site lends itself well to it with the entrance to the park. I am also thinking of attractive activities on weekends, around leisure and good quality food, organic for example ”.
It will be firm, so as not to reproduce “the errors” of the city center, invaded by banks and real estate agencies which do not create any attractiveness.
The artisanal city. It is planned in the back of the St Liévin wasteland. It will concern business services and activities around the craft industry.
A performance hall. The construction of a new cultural hall is planned behind the socio-educational center.
A new college. To welcome new inhabitants, infrastructure is needed, especially for the reception of children. Wattrelos has several primary, private and public schools. But the offer in college and high school is low. The departmental council validated the creation of a public college in Wattrelos, replacing the old Neruda college. It will be built opposite the Lion Park, on the islet of St Liévin, in the new Hippodrome district. the mayor hopes to see the work begin in 2 years.
The tram. Yes, he will one day arrive in Wattrelos. The year 2025 has been brought forward but it is still very hypothetical in view of the work. Above all, the precise route of the Roubaix-Wattrelos line has not yet been validated.
But the town hall of Wattrelos has already prepared its file and its ideal route: from Eurotéléport to the city via boulevard Mendès France. “This is the route that we envisioned if the tramway garage area took over the old Sartel site…” explains Dominique Baert.
Nothing is certain but the file is moving forward. This would link Wattrelos more to the rest of the Lille metropolis. Today, it takes 1 hour by public transport to reach the city center of Lille.
Has this article been useful to you? Note that you can follow Lille Actu in the Mon Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.
–
