Two new top-of-the-range hotels, Le Renaissance and Le Moxy, with a rooftop restaurant, a 13-screen UGC cinema, an “Au Bureau” pub, or even a producers’ shop for direct sales, “La cité des champs”… Since for several weeks, the Bassins à Flot district is increasing the number of openings for commercial stores.
This district in the north of Bordeaux bordering Bacalan, which began its transformation in the early 2010s, has changed in a few months. And it is not over since a new school will be inaugurated at the start of the school year on rue de Ouagadougou. If its (many) detractors still rail against a too high density of housing, denigrate its gray, black, sometimes brown or greenish buildings to reflect the hues of the Garonne, in the shapes and materials supposed to recall the industrial past of the district, force is to note that Les Bassins à Flot is gradually becoming a destination for the people of Bordeaux, in particular for a stroll along the quays of Basins N ° 1 and 2.
“Second district of Bordeaux the most frequented by tourists”
“We lived through a period of four years of long and difficult work, and even if this work is not finished, especially on basin n ° 2, we went through a tipping point in 2021”, testifies Thierry Zilliox, director of a another luxury hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel, which opened in 2018, and president of the “Destination Bassins à Flot” association, which brings together several economic players in the area. “We feel that the image of the neighborhood is changing, and we are finally seeing what will become of the Bassins à Flot in two or three years,” he continues. “It will be ‘the place to be’, I’m sure. “
Today deputy mayor of the Bordeaux Maritime district, which includes the Bassins à Flot, Vincent Maurin (PCF) had a hard tooth, when he was in the opposition under the era of Alain Juppé, against this urban project entrusted to the architect Nicolas Michelin. While the district is in the phase of completion, the elected official passed in the majority still points to “the share of free access exempt from tax, of the order of 75%” among the 4,700 housing units built in recent years. He regrets “that it is still a little too much of a dormitory district”, in particular because “the delivery of public facilities was delayed”. But “things are progressing: the Jean-Jacques Sempé school group opened in February, a new school, Modeste Testas, opens at the start of the next school year, and there will soon be a sports area on rue Lucien Faure, very close to the I- Boat. “
“We must also develop social links, and we are working with an associative space,” continues the elected. I think it can be an attractive neighborhood. Let us not forget that with the submarine base and the Cité du Vin, it is already the second district of Bordeaux the most frequented by tourists. “
“There is not much missing in this district”
The elected representative is also pleased that the port activity has been preserved. “I mobilized when I was in the opposition to safeguard the forms of refit [ou cales sèches], because the stake of the development of the basins, it is the success of a mix of functions between housing, trade, and naval pole. At the moment, there is a yacht under construction, which is also the hallmark of the Bassins à Flot. And every precaution has been taken to limit the nuisance. “
Inhabitant of the district for six and a half years, and at the initiative of the Bassins à Flot collective, which brings together residents of residences and barges, Hélène Szalay can also be very critical on certain aspects, but recognizes that on the whole “Things are going well. “” I am satisfied with recent developments, and I find that there is not much missing, in terms of restaurants, shops, services, there is everything you need. The breakthrough of paths, these pedestrian and tree-lined paths which converge towards the basins, is also a success, she notes.
The thorny issue of green spaces
Nevertheless, the big “black spot” revolves around the lack of green spaces, and the realization of the walk supposed to go around the basins “which advances too slowly. “” We are still standing up against the port project, which absolutely wants to keep the Armi building [bâtiment industriel situé en face du musée mer marine] whereas we were promised that it would be destroyed to transform this slab into a park ”plague Hélène Szalay.
“There are negotiations underway between the port, the metropolis, the city, and associations,” explains Vincent Maurin. The port has a buyer, who wants to use the infrastructure of this building for the ship repair activity, but has nevertheless accepted that a garden project is born, which will make it possible to go around the basins almost without interruption. ” Nearly.
As for green spaces in general, the elected representative lists a few projects here and there. “There will be a green space in front of the I-Boat, on the side of Basin n ° 2, trees will be planted along the quai des Caps, and a development is also planned between the Mac Donald’s and the submarine base, as well as at the back of the base with a park which will host a children’s play area. “Not enough to convince several residents, who have the feeling of having been” wronged “in relation to the promises of the initial project …
“The festive side has become normal”
There is also the problem of nuisances linked to festive activities, in particular with the evenings organized by historical players in the district, such as I.Boat or Les Vivres de l’Art, who nevertheless try to involve the inhabitants in their projects. “The festive side has become normalized,” assures Thierry Zilliox. We had security problems last year, but this year everything is going smoothly. “Vincent Maurin confirms not to have” been alerted to a particular problem this summer. “” It still depends where you live, and some residents are very annoyed by the noise at night, assures Hélène Szalay. And there is always a problem of insecurity, even if it is everywhere in Bordeaux… ”
The Bassins à Flot, if they have reached a milestone, still have some challenges to take up if they want to succeed in their bet. And improvements to be made. “I think it will take another five years to complete the district” announces Vincent Maurin.