villeurbanne

The image is beautiful, perhaps a little too idyllic. On this Wednesday in October, Bruno Bernard (EELV), the sub-prefect in charge of city policy, Salwa Philibert and the mayor of Villeurbanne, Cédric Van Styvendael (PS), answered questions from journalists in a park smelling the new one, east of Villeurbanne.

Between two showers, a few rays of sunshine accompanied their speech taking place between two completely rehabilitated building blocks in the Buers district. Behind them, only the “F bar”, in a lamentable state, reminds us of the work to be finished. “We arrive at a project which is almost finished, but we still have a trace to show how the district has evolved,” notes the sub-prefect in charge of city policy.

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In complete decay, this vestige has the advantage of highlighting the work carried out on the other housing. The social landlord Est métropole habitat (EMH) has invested 70,000 to 100,000 euros per accommodation. “And we remain with a rent of around 4.5 euros per m²,” specifies Céline Reynaud, director of EMH. Previously, prices were below four euros. But the bars were in poor condition. “When we considered that the rate of effort was too high, we did not increase the rents,” she assures.

From their windows, residents observe the strange broom formed by the thirty elected officials and journalists at their doors. Some applaud the speeches. Others are a little more cautious, like Hayat, who lives at “55” rue de la Boulbe. “We suffered a little during the construction period, but now things are better,” she notes. “Of course,” she recognizes the beautiful improvement of the place. But she regrets problems within the habitat, which has barely been renovated. According to her, the water sneaks between the slabs. It suffers from humidity problems.

A little further on, Kheira, 69, is much more cheerful. “The truth: it’s really good,” she smiles. Now I can say that I have beautiful eyesight. » The woman who has lived on rue de la Boulbe for 20 years notes an overall improvement in a neighborhood that is undergoing rapid change.

Because, in addition to these accommodations, an entire redevelopment work has been carried out. Rue du 8 mai, a stone’s throw from the ring road, has been resurfaced with the arrival of cycle paths. Work that does not convince everyone, far from it.

The press point between the rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated bars of the Buers district, in Villeurbanne. Photo: PL/Rue89Lyon.

“Rats” and “traffic jams”… The other side of the Buers renovation in Villeurbanne

At the Café de la Paix, located on this famous Rue du 8 Mai, the view is much more severe on the work carried out. “For the moment, they have mostly emptied the neighborhood,” complains the manager, pointing to bar F, this faded white and pink building, going into a tailspin. Ten families are still awaiting rehousing, before complete rehabilitation. At the counter, long-time Villeurbanne residents are (at least) skeptical.

When Kheira, a grandmother from Buers, appreciated the safety provided by the new rue du 8 mai (while still fearing the passage of cars), at the café, we moaned about the “traffic jams from 4 p.m. » “They removed the parking spaces to put in bicycle hoops. But they are always empty! », mocks the boss.

How often, the work has lasted (much) too long for them. Just like their side effects. For some time now, they have noticed an increase in the number of rats in the area. “They destroyed building cellars, but that brought them back up,” grumbles Carmélia, who has lived on Rue du 8 Mai for almost 50 years. Two days previously, a cleaning would have been done. But a return is to be expected, they believe.

Rue du 8 mai has been redeveloped, in the Buers district, in Villeurbanne. Photo: PL/Rue89Lyon.

Long and titanic works for 77 million euros

So, obviously, “greenery is better” but “they would have to finish the work, it’s getting painful.” » It must be said that the neighborhood has received its dose of work in recent years. In the north, the first projects on the “Terrain des sisters” began in 2016. 440 housing units have already been completed.

A little further south, the work dates back to 2019. The New National Urban Renewal Program of Les Buers (aka “NPNRU”) (which does not include the so-called “Sisters’ Land” zone) provides for the demolition of 150 housing units, the rehabilitation of 500 apartments, the “residentialization” of 600 others, the construction of 100 new housing units and urban developments. Overall cost: 77 million euros with support in particular from EMH for 53 million euros, the Métropole de Lyon for 7.6 million and the City of Villeurbanne for 5.5 million.

In terms of public space, we are talking about 11.6 million euros for 2.3 km of cycle paths, the creation of a pedestrian walk… A big facelift for a somewhat forgotten district to the east of Villeurbanne. For a long time, the area was best known (in a bad way) for its proximity to the ring road. This sector called “Northern Buers” is home to 1700 souls – 8000 people in all the Buers. In the major project carried out, a building to the north was destroyed… 1.5 meters from the ring road. Instead, an economic center must be built with 5,000 m2 of offices and activity.

Bar F, in the Buers district of Villeurbanne, is waiting to be rehabilitated. Photo: PL/Rue89Lyon.

When the work is “finished”, the work on diversity

“When finished, it will be very beautiful. In the meantime, it’s going on…” notes Vacene, 61 years old. This young retiree has known the Buers since 1981. He regrets a time when it was more “mixed” in terms of populations. “Today, there are only miserable people,” comments his neighbor. In their speech, an air of déjà vu. The town center of the commune would tend to accommodate a wealthier population, to the detriment of the nearby outskirts. In short, a fear of impoverishment is very present.

Behind the new buildings, they maintain a sort of small grudge and distrust. “It’s a project that was complicated and still is,” the mayor of Villeurbanne, Cédric Van Styvendael, seemed to respond to them during the press briefing.

North of Les Buers, in Villeurbanne, the neighborhood already smells new. Photo: PL/Rue89Lyon.

Former boss of EMH, the elected official notes the difficulties in setting up this project. He has experienced his share of opposition and, consequently, delays… Besides, he is standing. “We must already celebrate these victories to have the energy to continue,” he declared, in the middle of the new residences. On the Lyon Metropolis side, Béatrice Vessilier (EELV) highlighted “the arrival of three Lyon tracks” and the T9 tram. In 2026, the latter will connect Charpennes in 12 minutes. “It’s true that for people who don’t have a car, it could be practical,” recognizes Carmélia, a local resident, while admitting that she is not very “public transport-oriented.” »

There remains this famous F bar. “They haven’t even started the destruction,” grumbles the owner of the Café de la Paix. He may complain about it for some time to come. The work, for the restructuring of 117 housing units, should be completed in 2026. The bar will accommodate around a hundred student housing units. A beginning of diversity in a neighborhood currently being restructured.

2023-10-30 05:18:54
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