Through David Saint-Sernin
Published on 15 Apr 21 at 7:02
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There are still fields, somewhat isolated houses. Sometimes you have to take narrow roads to get around.
At north-east of Toulouse, just opposite the town of The Union (Haute-Garonne), the district of Paléficat is the last “rural” district of the Pink City.
Totally atypical in the landscape of the 4e city of France, this district will undergo a profound transformation in the fifteen years to come.
6,000 to 7,000 homes built
After witnessing the construction of Borderouge a few hectometers away, the inhabitants of Paléficat will see the excavators and cranes unload.
In this currently sparsely populated area, it is the equivalent of the neighboring city of the Union which must, in fact, come to settle in the next 15 to 20 years. About 15,000 new inhabitants that are expected. Between 6000 and 7000 housing units must be built, one of the largest real estate operations in the city.
–The project, under discussion for several years, is progressing slowly. Three developers have responded to a call for project management and the choice of who will imagine the new district will be made in July 2021.
An operation on 200 hectares
The main orientations of the project have been known for several months and they have not changed: an urban project, comprising 6,000 to 7,000 housing units, will be carried out over an area of 96 hectares.
In addition to these 96 hectares, there is another sector of 107 hectares, where urban transformations will also take place. A total of 203 hectares will therefore be densified (see the map below).
–An opportunity for Toulouse Métropole
According to Toulouse Metropolis, this large urban project is an opportunity to densify the city and avoid the spread of the agglomeration ever further.
Annette Laigneau, Vice-President of Toulouse Métropole and President of Oppidéa, the developer of the project, explains the philosophy of the project:
“Paléficat is a natural site and at the same time, on the scale of the Toulouse metropolis, we are in the city center of this one. However, we know that urban sprawl is a scourge, in particular for the finances of public authorities. We must therefore build in a sector like Paléficat, but finding the right mix in consultation with residents and town planners. Paléficat is still a rural sector and the idea is to maintain that identity while building housing. For this district, we have therefore defined a project of ‘Bocage inhabited’ which allows both to build while respecting the existing nature. The idea is really that the project that will be chosen can nestle in this nature ”.
A project called “Inhabited Bocage”
On paper, the project entitled “Habited Bocage” therefore provides for thousands of housing units, shops, a school group and new road infrastructure more suited to the new configuration of the new district, a third-place and an urban agriculture project around the current castle. This last redeveloped place would notably offer a bistronomic restaurant, a nursery, a concierge, third places …
–Local residents still worried about the announced upheaval
This project fails to reassure local residents who fear the upheavals announced and a deterioration in their quality of life.
Recently, the association Living in Paléficat called out to Annette Laigneau in a letter:
“Understand our concern about the future of our neighborhood. You are going to build on Paléficat the equivalent of a city larger than the Union or Castelnaudary (12000 inhabitants) It is not nothing…. Of course it’s a great playground for investors, developers and town planners and we can understand their enthusiasm. As you recalled yesterday, it is true that the imagined project of the ‘Bocage inhabited’ with respect for nature, harmony and quality of life is very attractive. You know that the association is not against this controlled project, in which it participates in a positive way, but our stumbling block is density ”.
In recent weeks, this concern has resulted in the installation of several banners in the neighborhood:
–A “damn city” that scorches
Above all, these inhabitants were scalded by the recent construction of a huge residence of several buildings, near the road to Albi. A place which constitutes the urban part of Paléficat and the gateway to this countryside still preserved in the heart of the agglomeration.
“Do not sell off our neighborhood”
Still in the same letter sent to Annette Laigneau, the inhabitants insist:
“We don’t want our neighborhood to be sold off. I am convinced by your intentions not to make Paléficat a disaster like Borderouge again. On the other hand, we were scalded by the new ‘city’ that you let build at the entrance to our district, at the corner of rue Edmond-Rostand and chemin Virebent. She is neither beautiful nor ugly, she is ‘nothing’ and of a frightening density. If it is ‘your show house’… This city wins unanimity, it frightens everyone and represents what no one wants to have near their home. This ‘damn city’ has distorted the harmony of Paleficate ”.
–Toulouse Métropole tries to reassure
The chosen one, for her part, tries to reassure:
“This residence, with contemporary and sober architecture, was carried out in a territory where there are all types of constructions – residences, individual houses and economic activity – and whose urbanization had not until here not been organized by the community. The plot on which it was built was fallow and we are here on an urban development operation phased in time for which we plan to densify, but also to create shops and green spaces. In Albi-Rostand, there will be densification, but there will also be protected green spaces. Everything will not be densified as in this first operation. What we are planning on Paléficat is still different. It will certainly no longer be a rural district, but there will always be agriculture with plain land, and through our reflection, we want to establish links between future projects ”.
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