Zone Urbaine Sensible and urban regeneration: preserving place identity by improving social inclusion

Since 20 years, France is involved by an interesting urban regeneration process which improves the quality of life in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability (Nijkamp and Perrels, 1994; Porfyriou and Sepe, 2017; Sepe, 2013a, 2014). The Zone Urbaine Sensible - ZUS, namely sensitive urban zones created in France in 1996 with Décret n°96-1156 are some disadvantaged areas supported by the PRU (Projets de Rénovation Urbaine), with the financial help of the ANRU, Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine that manages public-private funds and is aimed at integrating people through employment. In particular, within the Alpes Maritimes territory, 5 ZUS are located, three of these in the city of Nice, one is divided between Nice and Saint-André, and the last is located in Vallauris. In Nice, the urban regeneration of the ZUS is aimed at improving the quality of life and reduce the social differences through actions of new building, redevelopment, demolition and reconstruction. The demolition is carried out when the redevelopment, which must be characterized by principles of sustainability, is economically disadvantageous. In these contexts, urban projects mostly concern the redevelopment of public spaces and renovation of housing which fulfilled the objectives of the PLH (Programme Local de l'Habitat) to increase social development and improve the quality of life. Vieux Nice area (old town) is the historical and touristic heart of the city. The area, densely populated - 17,500 inhabitants in an area of 70 hectares - is considered a ZUS as a result of overcrowding which improves the real estate value, but decreases quality, comparable to social housing. The project idea of the PSMV (Plan de Sauvegarde et de Mise en Valeur), is also in this case to improve residences replacing them with environmentally sustainable buildings, all preserving place identity. The ZUS renewal is part of a wider process of regeneration which is interesting Nice by 20 years in the framework of the PNRU, Programme National de Rénovation Urbaine. The principal aims include mixed uses to increase employment, housings and social life. The new strategy is to decrease vacant areas performing differentiated activities in different moment of a day. The challenge is both renovating the urban environment and improving social inclusion, by respecting the urban form, and preserving place identity. All in a sustainable perspective (Pendlebury and Porfyriou, 2017; Sepe, 2013b). The paper will illustrate, the process of urban renewal which is interesting Nice since the beginning of 2000, starting from the emblematic Zone Urbaine Sensible and focusing on the questions deriving from the aforementioned challenge.