So influential real estate developer in Alès, at 70, Claude Dhombre has not finished with his plans to develop the capital of the Cevennes. Starting with the Pierre Plantée area where he has just opened a brand new medical center, while the Auchan supermarket, closed since last spring, will soon be replaced.
“I Built Ales”love to say. “Without me, 10,000 jobs would disappear in Alès alone”, continues the businessman. As he blows out his 70th candle this Monday December 12, Claude Dhombre is known as the white wolf in the capital of the Cévennes. Despite his advanced age which could allow him to claim a well-deserved retirement, the influential real estate developer still has plans for his city.
Claude Dhombre, a well-known real estate developer from Alès, has no shortage of projects for the capital of the Cévennes. (Photo Corentin Migoule)
Starting with what consists of making Pierre Plantée an essential area of economic activity. That’s a challenge. “All That Was Wasteland”he recalls, dipping effortlessly into his recollections during a site visit early last week. And to continue: “Today the market is in favor of the medical sector. That’s why I brought Oxance.”
For a few days, in all discretion, the mutual group has opened a medical-dental health center that has been talked about since times when Covid did not exist. It must be said that the structure is currently operating in slow motion. Dental surgeon, general practitioner, midwife… Oxance has launched an extensive recruitment plan to attract health professionals wishing to practice in the private sector.
The Oxance medical center has only been open for a few days. The Le Rubis project, which was to be annexed to it, is the subject of an appeal before the administrative judge. (Photo Corentin Migoule)
“I’ve been fighting for this project for five years. The premises are magnificent!”comments Claude Dhombre, who also recognizes the symbolic dimension of the approach: “In my life, I have often needed medical personnel and doctors. I want to give back to them like this.” And to continue, pointing to a grassy area next to the medical center: “There I planned to carry out the Le Rubis project. A superb building with a 500 m² radiology platform and a space dedicated to rare or even non-existent specialists in Alès, which I had managed to attract by offering them a three-year lease.”
Quoting in bulk “radiologist”, “urologist”, “dermatologist”, “stomatologist” et “oncologist”the president of the company Dhombre Groupe Société changes his tone at the mention of these doctors who have escaped him: “I had presented the building permit. It had been accepted. But in the meantime the Municipality has modified its PLU (Local Urban Plan, ed) with new, very restrictive rules. As part of its OAP, it wants to build public housing there. You see houses behind a supermarket, don’t you?
The Auchan supermarket has been closed since last spring and is due to be replaced by a huge Lidl. (Photo Corentin Migoule)
Said Auchan supermarket has closed since last spring but has found a replacement. Lidl has been in pole position from the start to recover the building. Well aware of the matter, Claude Dhombre warns: “Everything will be broken and modified by Lidl, which will build one of its largest stores in France there.” The Alesian real estate developer speaks of a 2,200 m2 supermarket whose work would lead to the closure of the current Le Domi brewery.
But by appropriating the old Auchan to set up a shop, the German distributor would abandon his small shop located a stone’s throw from Pierre Plantée, at 297 route de Nîmes. According to information sent by Claude Dhombre, Lidl in the Cévennes district is also set to close its doors. And the gas station in the area, closed since Auchan brought down the curtain?
The Pierre Plantée petrol station is expected to reopen at the same time as the new Lidl. (Photo Corentin Migoule)
This would have been bought by the Lidl group together with the shop, but the German distributor, not having the habit of integrating service stations into their projects, would have to give the lease back to an independent, who would relaunch the service station by relying on the washing that is still in operation. Again according to Claude Dhombre, the opening of the new Pierre Plantée supermarket is to be hoped for in the summer of 2023.
“With Lidl, this area will explode!”the businessman announces. “But it drags on, we have to wait for the authorizations”he exasperated. “All the projects I wanted to carry out in Alès went before the administrative court”admits the real estate developer, deploring the slowness of the procedures and the “sticks” that we put in the wheels. The situation seems a little clearer and has settled south of the Pierre Plantée area.
The Lidl on the road to Nîmes will be razed and a new supermarket will be built in place of the current Auchan. (Photo Corentin Migoule)
A building permit has been filed and obtained from the Vestia group, which envisages the construction of a complex of two residences for a total of 120 apartments, in place of the former headquarters of SAS Roger, which will be demolished. “It will be an independent private accommodation dedicated to people who have little money and need medical care”, says the seventy-year-old. Alongside, still on the road to Nîmes, another 100 houses would have been erected in place of the current Lidl.
The former premises of SAS Roger will be destroyed. The Vestia group intends to build 120 houses there. (Photo Corentin Migoule)
For the complete development of the commercial area which also houses a pharmacy, a hairdresser, an optical shop, a wine and beer cellar, as well as a Japanese restaurant, Claude Dhombre conjures up a total investment of around 50 million euros. “My driving force has always been the general interest and well-being of Alésiens”says the entrepreneur, who does not deny the prosecution of a “economic purpose”.
A sports complex at Porte Sud?
Looking in the rear-view mirror, Claude Dhombre recalls that it took “20 years” to complete the project for the Porte Sud shopping area, near the last exit of the Nîmes-Alès 2×2 lane. How much will it take to create the extension of the area that he intends to call “South Gate 2”? Questioning the flooding of the sector, the Alesian has somewhat revised its plans: “I will stand 100 meters from the edge of the flood protection work.” The land would therefore be located on the northern edge of the commune of Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas and would be intended to house a sports complex combining padel courts, soccer fields and a restaurant with a panoramic view. A project for which the promoter would join forces with a former professional player, “a friend”.
And a trip to Hyper U?
For “more than ten years”, Claude Dhombre has been engaged in an administrative battle as part of his driving project adjacent to the current Hyper U, located on the southern ring road. “The permit has been issued. The authorization relating to the water law is missing,” warns the lawyer Nicolas Flamen, one of his close collaborators. “Here too I am in court with the State, which has validated the new studies which say that there is much less water than indicated by the PPRI (flood risk prevention plan, ed.),” completes the entrepreneur in no uncertain terms . And to sink: “I plan a retention basin and a compensation basin under the building. So they don’t worry about the water, there won’t be any more!”
Corentin Migoule
