The quarries of the West in Gagny (Seine-Saint-Denis) will be transformed into a natural park, announced on December 24, the city and the prefecture of the department.
The abandoned real estate project
The real estate program announced in early 2019 and which provided for the on-site construction of nearly 2,000 housing units in these quarries, will ultimately never see the light of day. He was officially buried by the prefecture of Seine-Saint-Denis and by the new municipality. The creation of these accommodations had created strong opposition among some residents and several environmental associations.. These old gypsum quarries dating from the 1950s are now home to biodiversity with several protected plant and animal species.
“A chance for Gagny”
Rolin Cranoly (LR), mayor since August 2019, was committed to reviewing this real estate project and welcomes the new project selected. “There was an awareness of the municipality to preserve these quarries, this natural space: 14 hectares of natural setting in the heart of an extremely dense area, it is a chance for Gagny”. This new park will constitute a fourth “green lung” for this municipality of 40,000 inhabitants.
– Hajera Mohammad
A state-funded project
The new project plans to develop the southern part of the quarries in landscaped park with paths open to walkers while the northern part will be sanctuary to preserve biodiversity. The city has pledged to acquire the land next year for 1.5 million euros. But it is securing the site that will cost the most. For that, the prefecture of Seine-Saint-Denis will release 2.3 million euros from 2021 via the recovery plan put in place this year by the government. Further state investments are expected in the following years. “This is the purpose of the plan, it is to give impetus to projects by having significant funds”, explains Patrick Lapouze, the sub-prefect of Raincy.
The city also hopes to receive aid of 7.5 million euros from the Barnier funds (prevention fund for major natural risks). The site should start next year with security work which will last two years.
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