Urban renovation in Nîmes: demolition of the Avogadro tower act II, here we go!

Au sommet de la tour Avogadro, l'écrêtage du toit désormais terminé a duré un mois entier. Midi Libre – C.S.

Suspended at the start of 2023, the demolition work on the highest peak of the Cité des Antonins in Valdegour has resumed with a vengeance. They are part of a more global renovation project for an entire neighborhood.

At the foot of the Avogadro tower, emblem of the priority district of the Pissevin-Valdegour city policy, Wednesday February 14 at 9 a.m., elected officials, institutions, community activists and residents scrupulously listen to the explanations, panel & nbsp;in support, by Stéphane Cabrie.

In front of the press, the general director of Habitat du Gard, the department's leading social landlord, details, after the setbacks of the demolition site suspended for many months (following the discovery of asbestos in exterior seals), the different stages of ''Phase 1'' now completed of this titanic project which finally resumed at the beginning of October: complex asbestos removal with extraction of 1.6 tonnes of fiber cement and installation of four impressive lifting platforms.

Floors 7 to 19 completed

Since the beginning of 2024, the tower demolition project, now launched in its ''Phase 2'' and carried out by the company Morin (Bouches-du-Rhône), has already consisted of the complex clipping of the roof of the 63 meter high building. nbsp;and its double slab for 4 weeks, then the interior demolition of its floors 19 to 7 using a mini excavator.

At the top of the building, from Mont-Ventoux to Pic-Saint-Loup, the view is spectacular. On the west nacelle, the prefect of Gard Jérôme Bonet accompanied by the president of the metropolis Frank Proust and Julien Plantier, 1st deputy mayor of Nîmes delegated to town planning, note that themselves that morning, the progress of the project for which additional funding was obtained (read opposite).

7 to 10 days per floor

Head of the demolition site, Daniel Evrard details: " The complete treatment of the 350 m2 platform on each floor lasts between a week and 10 days. After the shoring and cleaning operations, our nine staff (team leader, construction site and laborers, machine operators) break down partitions and walls, before clearing then… ;nbsp;to evacuate the rubble to the ground, along the east facade via a dedicated mobile platform.

The demolition work on this historic tower in Nîmes will be completed, barring any unpleasant surprises, by this summer. It will continue with the destruction this time much more spectacular  Matisse towers of the city's university campus  during July. A demolition for which the use of explosives would already be implemented.

Amplified funding, for a “global” project

The destruction of the Avogadro Tower is part of a much more global concerted project of renovation, residentialization, requalification and security of the entire neighborhood. Faced with these objectives, and following the request made in December by a local delegation, the commitment committee of the Urban Renovation Agency (Anru) and its partners came together. ;nbsp;met to decide on the amplification of the subsidy envelope allocated to this national urban renovation project for the Nîmes metropolis to the tune of 12 .28 million euros.  While the initial planned envelope was 117.8 million euros, it has now reached 130 million euros.

Avogadro, it was “my” tower!

Tourya, 33 years old, administrative assistant: " The Avogadro Tower was our lighthouse. As soon as we arrived in Nîmes, we could see each other from afar, thanks to her. I lived there for 22 years from my childhood until I got married and became a mother. My fondest memories are the unwavering bonds created with our neighborhood. A neighborhood which has, over time, become in this cocoon, a bit like our real family. When I pass by, the progress of the work already does something to me. But the total demolition is going to be quite heartbreaking! ".

Mimoune, 35 years old, butcher: " I was lucky enough to live for 18 years from 2001 to 2019 on the 18th floor with my parents and my 4 brothers and sister. From up there, the view was breathtaking! In this popular and united neighborhood, where shootings and gang wars did not yet exist, I can say that we were happy and calm. From the top of the tower, parents watched each other's children during football games. The Avogadro Tower is clearly my fondest childhood and family memories.

Karima, 35 years old, caregiver. "I lived in Avogadro Tower from the time I was 10 until I was 22. I lived on the first floor with my parents and my three sisters, it was the best. The children were going up and down to play at each other's houses, and we had a direct view of the square. When it's destroyed it's going to be really weird. You think they're going to put a garden instead ? That's true ? One thing's for sure, it's going to make a big change!.< /p> I subscribe to read more