Ecocity, with its 35,000 projected housing units, The project of the century for Reunion promises to be. The multiple economic and urban developments falling under the ecocity label are part of a future covering the three municipalities of the Western Territory, St.Paul, The Port and The Possession. It is in particular the Phaonce eco-district, on the former site of the Omega antenna, which will profoundly change the commune of Saint-Paul, as shown by several major achievements which must begin by next year.
If it is difficult today for companies to plan for the long term, they cannot ignore the developments that are coming in the West. That in particular of the “quarter-hour city” : Emmanuel Séraphin, mayor of Saint-Paul and president of the Western Territory Urban Community, often cites this expression to describe his vision of the future of the urban city center of the municipality throughout the ecocity project. To understand : the city which, for all residents, will put the public services, and reduce travel between home and work, at “a quarter of an hour”. A challenge today in Reunion.
The analysis of the real estate market carried out each year by the real estate company Inovista highlights this year the key role that regional planning should play in bringing workplaces and homes closer together., if the island wants to escape the circulatory coma that threatens it from all sides. It is in this sense that the ambition of the “quarter-hour city” is avant-garde in Reunion.. Especially since it is accompanied by the idea of restoring to Saint-Paul the influence of a pioneering city which it had historically., the Saint-Paul urban crescent having been the first settlement area on the island. The various initiatives relating to quality of life and sustainable development currently carried out by the municipality (SWAC marine energy project, soft mobility with the rental of electric bikes, scooters and scooters, opening of swimming in the bay of Saint-Paul, deckchairs along the seafront promenade, enlargement of the Léspas Leconte hall in Lisle, etc.) meet current needs, but must be read from this perspective of making Saint-Paul an attractive city for the generations who will gradually come to reside in the town as the Phaonce eco-district progresses.. This futuristic district will be the “beating heart” of the eco-city. He was baptized at the end of January Phaonce, named after one of the main Maroon leaders at the time of the revolts against slavery.
The eco-city of Reunion
Some figures to remind you of the scale of the ecocity project : 5,000 hectares to be developed and 14 development operations in the three municipalities, a total of 350,000 m2 of floor space intended for economic activities, a completion horizon around 2050. Several achievements are already underway, such as the Heart of the City of La Possession or the innovation campus on the Oasis au Port triangle. The start of work on the Henri-Cornu economic area which, sur Cambaie, will develop 24 ha of tertiary activities, artisanal, industrial and commercial, part of which is devoted to renewable energies, is expected next year. The Port concentrates the operation of the Industrial-port zone which should also soon see its first works after the signing on April 30, between the Grand Maritime Port of Reunion and the Department, land owner, of a long lease for a period of 75 years covering 17,5 ha. The ecocity also includes the mall and Ocean Gate projects., who must open the port city towards the sea. As for the Phaonce eco-district, it will concentrate a good part of the 35,000 new housing units planned. The urban renewal of downtown Saint-Paul, with the structuring of the north and south entrances, from the seafront and the hyper-center, must bring the historic cradle of the population of Reunion Island into line with the expectations of 21st century Reunion Islanders who will live and work in the ecocity.
The Vacoa project, symbol of a new modernity
Launched in July 2022, Kreolab’ is a development and town planning consultation designed within the framework of ecocity to bring out projects representative of “the tropical and bioclimatic city of tomorrow”. We thus speak of “demonstrators of ecocity, exemplary and innovative. » The first achievement resulting from the Kreolab’ call for urban projects will see the light of day on the block at the northern entrance to the city of Saint-Paul. Named Vacoa, this project was proposed by CBo Territoria. It will be a “totem building” on the Chaussée Royale, “symbol of the tropical architecture of tomorrow. » Architecture inspired by woven vacoa, the real estate complex will organize three buildings, with a surface area of 8,000 m2, around a garden. There will be accommodation (65 accommodations from T2 to T4), offices on the floors (3 500 m2), and shops on the ground floor (500 m2). A supermarket and a residence for the elderly will complete the operation. All close to the Saint-Paul bus station. Construction of Vacoa will begin in the second half of the year.
A hub of creative industries on the seafront
Saint-Paul aims to become the resource center for the creative industries of Reunion Island. The municipality is pursuing a project where the Rubika animation school will operate side by side and in synergy, which is due to open next September, and a future territorial hub of cultural and creative industries. Rubik's, school of excellence in design, animation and video games, opens its first campus outside France in Reunion. This implementation meets the needs of companies in the digital creation sector, animation and video games, which is developing on the island, on the initiative in particular of the Gao Shan Pictures studio*. The Rubika Réunion campus will welcome its first students in the Cimendef building while awaiting the rehabilitation of the old Eugène-Dayot school on the seafront., which will be its permanent headquarters from 2026. The territorial center for cultural and creative industries would be built next to. This project led by the Western Territory, the Réunion Region and Gao Shan Pictures are part of the France 2030 calls for projects. Its objective is to make available to Reunionese cultural actors of cinema, digital creation and live performance, shared equipment that will allow them to progress.
Downtown, the junction of past and future
Among the most significant urban renewal projects in downtown Saint-Paul, we can cite the rehabilitation of the covered market, which will become a food court, a fast food area bringing together various cuisine offerings, with a craft part, as we find today in several cities in France. A future meeting place for local and tourist customers. But it is undoubtedly the redevelopment of the site of the former Gabriel-Martin hospital center and its surroundings which will make the greatest impression. The future town hall of Saint-Paul, which will bring together the minimum services scattered throughout the urban area, will take place there, alongside shops and a silo car park. This administrative and commercial center will not only expand the lively heart of the city, but underline the enhancement of the forgotten historical axis of Saint-Paul, namely rue Labourdonnais connecting the church of Saint-Paul, which was the first built on the island, at the bay where the new arrivals disembarked, settlers and slaves. From the church square to the sea, this street will regain a symbolic meaning. Rehabilitation work on the landing stage, built in 2008-2009 practically at the end of rue Labourdonnais, will start at the end of the year. They will be like the first gesture of this future urban “signature”, who will link the past of Saint-Paul to its future.
* Read also “Reunion, leading actress of French animated cinema », in Leader Meeting n° 230, mars 2024, and on leaderreunion.fr
