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Christian Estrosi has the gift of creating surprise.
“To get us out of hat projects!”
, qualify its opponents.
Thursday evening, the city councilor of Nice in his capacity as president of the Metropolis announced the construction of a convention center at the port of Nice, with a view to hosting the ocean summit in 2025.
The Metropolis, owner of the port, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the current concessionaire, have agreed to an agreement
"intended to allow optimal organization of the Summit"
.
A collaboration which should materialize with the creation of a first exhibition center within the current hall of the MIN Fleurs, to the west of the city, in the Var plain.
Nothing very surprising until then, the project had been in the pipeline for a long time, in particular to justify the contested demolition of the Acropolis congress center on the Coulée Verte.
The real surprise therefore lies in the creation of a second exhibition center on the Admiral Infernet quay, in place of the aerial parking lot.
According to the Metropolis, it would be
“a permanent structure of around 10,000 square meters”
, to accommodate the summit of the ocean in two years.
A building with a plenary room with a capacity of more than 1,200 seats in an amphitheater and several adjoining meeting rooms that can increase the capacity to 1,500 seats.
“The structure will be maintained after the Summit, making it possible to accommodate future congresses”
, assures the Metropolis.
“What is astonishing is that in the file on the modalities of hosting the UN summit which was presented to us, we are told of prefabricated, and not of
asks a local detractor.
I tell myself that it would be better to put this money in the protection of the oceans, rather than helping to finance a convention center that the mayor is not able to assume himself
Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, elected EELV
In addition, the Metropolis specifies that the construction of the palace will be financed at 90% by the United Nations, France and Costa Rica (co-organizers of the summit).
A masterstroke from Christian Estrosi who immediately breaks the arrows of the opposition on the cost of the project, while his management of finances is regularly criticized.
In
Nice Matin
, he says he has kept this joker up his sleeve
“for a year”
.
And to add, not without a touch of irony: “
I couldn't show my cards at the risk of ruining everything.
But, in my corner, during all this time, I smiled while seeing everyone agitated.
»
Read alsoRedevelopment of the port of Nice: will yachts replace Corsica Ferries?
If, among the "Ciottists", we are careful not to react hotly, on the environmental side we rebuke the
"build/destroy"
policy of Christian Estrosi.
“We just jump from project to project.
I tell myself that it would be better to put this money in the protection of the oceans, rather than helping to finance a convention center that the mayor is not able to assume himself, ”says Juliette
Chesnel -Le Roux, elected EELV.
The ecologist, however, congratulates the city councilor for having
"recovered [his] ideas"
, she who called for the construction of a large house by the sea on the Lympia port.
The elected municipal and metropolitan Reconquest!
Philippe Vardon, fervent defender of the Acropolis Palace, evokes for his part an
"exciting project",
but says to wait
“to know more, in particular on the architectural and financial plan.
»
Direct management of the Port of Nice taken over by the Métropole
From July 1, 2023, the Metropolis will take over the management of the Lympia port under direct management,
“guaranteeing perfect continuity for employees and for users”
, she assures.
An agreement reached with the CCI (concessionaire since 1978) while the current contract would be
“unsuitable for the organization of the summit of the ocean and the realization of the program of requalification of the port, as well by its perimeter as its methods.
Its initial objectives have even become moot.”
If the CCI loses this management, it should gain that of the two future congress centres, at the MIN and on the Quai Infernet space.
An agreement would have already been passed in this sense.
