What do you do with a street name plate when you remove it? Until now, the city of Lille stored them in a municipal building. About 5000 plates. But when she had to empty the building before its restructuring, she also decided to part with these pieces of heritage.
First option, resell them to a scrap dealer. According to the town hall, it is selling very well. But she explains that she prefers to keep her heritage alive. It therefore appealed to the National Directorate of State Interventions, which deals with auctions of administrative property.
– Louis de Bergevin
This sale attracts inhabitants, who have a history with this or that street. But also collectors. Alexandre came with a friend. Equipped with plastic gloves, they handle and observe each plate one by one. “It’s a piece of the city, a piece of history. So here we’re going to try to get as much as possible.”
This Tuesday, January 1, they were exhibited in the attic of a building in Old Lille, the sugar hall. Arranged in lots, with different shades of blue, some displaying the arrondissement numbers, which no longer exist.
The objective: to favor Lille residents as much as possible
The auctions will take place in a classic way “hammer”. “It’s like in the movies”, notify the sales commissioner. Who will not go too fast for this specific sale: he is not dealing only with connoisseurs. All the enthusiasts, lovers of the streets of Lille have an appointment this Wednesday, January 2, at 2 p.m. at the sugar hall, rue de l’warehouse.