They are mobilizing against a construction project for a building in one of the few green lungs in their neighborhood. About forty people: local residents, but also association activists from all over Nantes, gathered this Thursday afternoon at the 72 Avenue du Bout des Landes in Nantes.
They denounce a real estate project led by Crédit Agricole Immo. It is a question of raising a 2,500 m2 building from the ground, 44 apartments on a wooded plot of 4,500 m2. Currently, on this plot, there is only an empty house of 170 m2. For the realization of this real estate project, 22 trees will be felled.
A first revamped project
A first project had been rejected two years ago by the metropolis, since the promoter has reviewed its copy and promised to save the century old oak treesbut this is not enough for the local residents who have filed an informal appeal with the courts.
Oak is the best depolluter
“There are still trees that are 50 years old and over”, Explain Sophie Tiger which is at the origin of a first petition four years ago and of the legal action. “And in any case, all the trees are necessary for freshness for oxygen. In addition, we are near the ring road, which has been enlarged. An oak tree is the best depolluter. In addition, we are in a humid area with the water table which is flush. The neighboring constructions are already weakened” .
Sophie Tiger also says that before the construction of the three neighboring buildings, on the property, there were a lot of trees, greenery, there were also birds and they are no longer there.
– Nicolas Crozel
We cut down fifteen trees, we replant three to make it look pretty and we say to the poor: see, we are greening you
Came to demonstrate alongside local residents, Patrick Eade of the “60 million pedestrians” association denounce him “schizophrenia” of the Nantes municipality. “Today there are beautiful projects in the hyper center of Nantes, on the banks of the Loire, over there yes we remove the bitumen, yes we green, to make a “postcard” city, a city that participates in the competitions for the greenest city, the most this, the most that, and meanwhile the developers are concrete on the outskirts, concrete in the working-class neighborhoods, it’s discrimination. Fifteen trees are cut down, three are replanted to make pretty and we say to the poor: see, we make you green.”
However, opponents recognize thatit is necessary to find land to build in response to the demand for housing but “we have to build differently and use already artificialized areas, rehabilitate offices, transform them into housing. Obviously it costs more but the land is our place of life, we cannot destroy everything and hope to have a decent life, you have to know what you want, concludes Sophie Tiger.
The suspended project
In the meantime, and given the free appeal, the project is blocked. The National Biodiversity Office has been contacted and is requesting that a inventory of local fauna be carried out by the promoter, which will take many months.