The future OPEN shopping center in Saint-Genis worries the Geneva State Council

The Geneva executive criticizes the future space of 40,000 m² planned in Ain, but cannot legally oppose it.

The future OPEN shopping center planned for Saint-Genis (F), in the Pays de Gex, is of concern to the Geneva State Council. The latter indicated on Wednesday that with its 40,000 m2, it would cover “on its own 80% of the needs in commercial sales areas estimated for the whole of French Geneva over the next five years”. Above all, the government castigates a model that encourages car use and shopping tourism. “This type of infrastructure therefore goes against the canton’s objectives in terms of regional planning and the economy”, Geneva wishing rather “to promote local shops”.

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The Council of State nevertheless admits that “this project will not directly affect the natural environment of Geneva, including the Allondon valley”. In other words, he cannot oppose it legally and must content himself with expressing a political refusal.

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