“Bois l’Abbé? More like a phoenix,” I say. This street has seen it all. The Rue du Bois l’Abbé. It is not just a road. It is a story of transformation. It is a testament to resilience.
Rue du Bois l’Abbé is located within the largest urban policy district of Val-de-Marne. It also stands as the third New National Urban Renewal Program in Île-de-France. This area of social housing was built in the 1970s. It covers 31 hectares. It continues its transformation today.
Paris Habitat owns 40% of the property here. This portion has already benefited from ANRU 1. This initiative ran from 2009 to 2018. It included the renovation of 729 homes. Another 365 were upgraded. Ninety-eight homes were demolished. The new project plans to continue renovating the housing. It aims to diversify land use. It will promote development. Public spaces will be improved. Economic activity will be supported.
The Bois-l’Abbé area is undergoing major changes. Nine hundred fifty-six homes are being renovated. This will improve living conditions and energy efficiency. This project includes the Solomon, Bellay/Ronsard and Tour 40 Boileau residences. The project also renovates Charles d’Orléans and Chennevières residences.
The ground floors of Grand Rameau and Grand Lulli are being revitalized. The plan includes converting 52 apartments into business premises. The storefronts of the shopping center are also being renovated. The goal is to create new business opportunities. Over one thousand homes are being upgraded. Three buildings will be demolished. These are Petit Lulli, Petit Goujon and part of Barre Rameau.
Two hundred two households will be relocated. Paris Habitat plans to rebuild 70% of the demolished homes. This equals 141 units. Other landlords will handle the remaining 61 social housing units. Paris Habitat will build 114 new homes on the site.
Until the late 1950s a marshy forest stood here. It was once owned by the Abbey of Saint-Maur. In the 1960s this new part of the city suddenly appeared. Rising property prices led Parisian social housing to invest in these suburban lands. This happened without the agreement of local towns.
In response to the housing crisis the state planned large housing developments. Champigny-sur-Marne hosted France’s largest shantytown in the late 1950s. It was populated by about 15,000 Portuguese immigrants.
A building permit was issued for a large complex. It included 2,707 homes and 45 rooms in Champigny. It also included 1,012 homes and 258 rooms in Chennevières. Several public and commercial facilities were added. The Bois-l’Abbé area was created in 1968. The Rodin tower stands tall. It is 93 meters high with 29 floors. It houses 226 apartments.
The Bois-l’Abbé has not been without its challenges. Urban and social issues led to its classification as a sensitive urban zone. It later became a priority district.
Since the early 2000s the district has benefited from urban renewal programs. These are funded by the National Agency for Urban Renewal. These projects include housing renovation and outdoor space improvements. They also aim to open up the district. New buildings and a new entrance will be created. Streets will be redeveloped and the sanitation system modernized.
The Bois-l’Abbé rehabilitation project is worth nearly 450 million euros. Champigny accounts for almost 270 million euros of this amount. It is the largest urban renewal project in Val-de-Marne.
In 2020 the district launched its first telemedicine booth. Equipped with measuring devices it is available to residents seven days a week.
The Rue du Bois l’Abbé is a place of constant change. It is a place where the community perseveres. Keep this in mind.