Marmande: impatient to see the work completed, the residents of the La Gravette social housing are already satisfied with the result

The construction site, which began in 2021, is expected to be completed in 2026. But the 320 families who live in the residence have already seen their interiors and surroundings transformed.

"Before, no one wanted to come and live in La Gravette; now everyone will want to move there!" The members of the tenants' association are not entirely serious, but they must admit: the renovation project of the 13 buildings managed by the social landlord Habitalys is largely positive, although the work has not been without its problems .

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Delays, inflation in the price of materials, and failures by companies have extended the duration of the construction site and "made the bill explode" (1), reports the manager of the landlord's Marmande agency, Vanessa Angeloni. New residents are indeed expected in the social housing projects. In particular, students, in the 28 T1 and T1 bis apartments converted into former T5 apartments, located near the Cité de la formation .

"The improvement in comfort has been significant," says Claude Gajac, a resident of Building X for thirty-one years. For him, it was time to update this 1960s-era home. The renovation of the 320 units included, among other things, the renovation of all the kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets, window replacement, electrical renovation, installation of mechanical ventilation, and exterior insulation. All work on the private areas has now been completed. The project could be completed "optimistically by early 2026," according to Habitalys.

Joëlle Broudiscou, a neighbor in the building, appreciates the switch from gas heating to geothermal energy. "We're much better heated." The tenant for over thirty years is now waiting to see the benefits of this new system on her bill. The sixty-year-old is also delighted that the small slipper bathtub has been replaced with a walk-in shower, "much more practical."

The resident also gained "almost an extra room" with the addition of a 15-square-meter terrace, replacing the tiny balcony she previously had. Another major change: the homes now have intercoms equipped with a camera. "It's very useful, especially for avoiding canvassers."

Although it was the first to benefit from the changes, Building X unwittingly served as a "guinea pig" and took the brunt of the work when it began in 2021. A tenant for nine years, Kacem El-Ktaïbi regrets the "many inconveniences" inherent in a construction site in a residential area, which are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, Habitalys assures. The tenants' association and several residents have alerted Habitalys to the growth of mold. Between the insulation changes and the installation of mechanical ventilation, 130 homes have been affected by the phenomenon. They will all undergo renovations, at the landlord's expense.

"We can't wait to get this over with," whisper the members of the association. And not everything is (yet) perfect. Residents regret that, since the system was changed, they always have to run the tap for a long time before getting hot water. Tenants hope that the roads will be repaired quickly. The potholes are turning the walkways between buildings "into a swimming pool," describes Abdallah Mouhidine, and are proving dangerous, especially for the elderly. Residents are eager to see the elevators come into service and the green spaces landscaped (see box). The tenants' association would like Habitalys to provide an update on the progress of the work and share a provisional schedule until completion. The tenants' association invites residents to meet this Thursday, May 15, at 6 p.m., to discuss the matter.

(1) More than 21 million euros, compared to 16 initially.