For years, some families had lived in Le Mistral, a former hotel in Clamart, in unworthy and dangerous conditions for their safety.
Twenty-one families from the building located at 463 avenue du Général de Gaulle were therefore evacuated this Thursday by joint action by the city and the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture.
The building was the subject of a municipal decree aimed at "putting an end to an imminent danger" taken on October 29.
If the operation took place calmly, according to the associations present, "some people in tears" felt helpless to leave their accommodation, certainly unworthy, but lasting, contrary to what is offered to them today.
A closure decree in 2004
"It is not an eviction but an evacuation to put these people to safety", one wishes to specify in town hall.
Indeed, this building, initially operated as a hotel, had been the subject of a temporary closure order in 2004 due to several security anomalies, already notified in 1997.
“Following reports last spring, the municipal security commission of the city carried out a site visit on May 6 and was able to note the presence of occupants in the hotel, as well as several security anomalies, in particular electrical , despite the temporary closure decree of 2004, ”explains the city.
After this visit, the owner was ordered to carry out safety work on the electrical installations.
The town also seized the Regional Health Agency and reported to the public prosecutor the irregular use of the Mistral hotel as a residential building in unworthy conditions.
Most of the families were taken by bus to an apartment hotel in the city.
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However, these measures did not change the situation since the owner continued to rent rooms and did not start work.
The decree of October 29 therefore reiterated the temporary ban of 2004 while requiring the owner to relocate the occupants.
He did not do it.
The evacuation was ordered.
"As a result, an accommodation solution was offered to families in Clamart so that there is continuity in the balance of life", we assure the mayor's office.
In detail, 17 families were relocated by the prefecture to the Adagio apartment hotel in Clamart and four families were taken in charge by the lessor Vallée Sud Habitat with whom they already had a file made up.
For its part, however, the Secours Catholique, which was on site this Thursday, ensures that several people find themselves without a relocation proposal.
Warned just a few days ago, they had to quickly collect all their belongings.
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"All the families were taken care of except the single men, redirected by the 115", specifies Hanane Benikass who had launched a petition last spring to help these families.
If she deplores the way things are done - some residents would not have been warned until Tuesday of their departure - she says she is relieved to see them leave the building: "Even if most have no lasting solution, at least these people will no longer be in danger.
This building was unsanitary, the children were sick all the time and the owner continued to rent with impunity, ”she continues.
Contacted, the latter claims to have already sold the building: "We are waiting for the permit deposits to be able to raze, it suits us that it is emptied," he said.
A sale that the city is not aware of.
In the meantime, the cost of the evacuation as well as the rehousing of the inhabitants - urgently supported by the city and the prefecture - must come back to him.
"We will see that in the administrative court," he sweeps.