The skyline of Nice’s Moulins neighborhood is shifting once more as dismantling gets underway at Tour 19, a residential block built in 1968 that housed 47 apartments under the management of Côte d’Azur Habitat.
Following the demolition of its neighbor, Tour 17, which took place in 2026, local authorities launched the next phase of a sweeping urban renewal project designed to clear space, modernize local housing, and reshape the neighborhood’s layout. Une cité moins refermée, plus ouverte sur la ville
describes the initiative, which Éric Ciotti calls an étape de plus
in opening up the Moulins district.
The demolition method chosen for Tour 19 avoids dramatic explosions or sudden collapses. Because of the close proximity of surrounding apartment blocks, workers are stripping the structure progressively from the top down, removing the upper eight levels individually while funneling rubble through the interior. Mechanical excavators will handle the final two lower levels. Prior to structural teardown, the building underwent extensive asbestos and lead abatement.
Financed by a budget exceeding three million euros for both buildings, the ongoing dismantling operations have also integrated a social dimension, generating approximately 1,200 hours of professional insertion work for local residents. According to official schedules, the entire deconstruction phase is slated for completion in March 2027, a project carried out by Côte d’Azur Habitat alongside public partners.
Clearing Space for New Ownership Models
Beyond removing aging concrete, the clearance of Tour 17 and Tour 19 opens up room for entirely new real estate developments. Plans for the site include 65 free-market rental apartments alongside private homeownership opportunities—a novelty for the Moulins district. Afterward, the land freed by the deconstruction of tours 17 and 19 will allow for the construction of new housing.
Françoise Souliman, president of Côte d’Azur Habitat and first deputy mayor of Nice, emphasized that introducing private property ownership aims to diversify the local housing stock and foster greater social mixity. The overall urban renewal plan for the area encompasses the renovation of 748 homes, the demolition of 235 outdated units, and the creation of 177 new dwellings. The broader renovation initiative across the Moulins sector represents a financial commitment of roughly 320 million euros.
To improve neighborhood connectivity, the cleared footprint will also make way for a new one-way thoroughfare named Allée Sœur-Emmanuelle. This new connection will allow vehicular traffic to flow between Rue Mère Teresa and Avenue Martin Luther King, effectively opening up what officials describe as a previously enclosed urban pocket.
Weighing Daily Nuisances Against Long-Term Hopes
For the residents living alongside the active worksite, the path toward a renovated neighborhood brings immediate logistical hurdles. Dust, persistent noise, and an increase in local rat sightings during excavation have added friction to daily routines, as reported by residents on site.
Côte d’Azur Habitat stated that specific precautions have been put in place to contain nuisances, secure pedestrian pathways, and guarantee unhindered access for emergency vehicles.
Addressing Security and Infrastructure Challenges
Local leaders maintain that the transformation of the Moulins district serves a dual purpose: upgrading living conditions while simultaneously undercutting conditions that favor narcotics trafficking. Éric Ciotti argued that redesigning the neighborhood’s architecture helps eliminate isolated spaces prone to illicit trade.
Céline Maquet, sub-prefect for urban policy and social policies in the Alpes-Maritimes, pointed out that these physical adjustments must be paired with sustained law enforcement presence.
As heavy machinery continues its slow dismantling of Tour 19, the immediate test for both planners and residents remains bridging the gap between current construction grievances and the promised neighborhood transformation set to materialize by March 2027. Nous faisons le choix de détruire ce qui doit l’être pour offrir demain un quartier plus ouvert, plus agréable à vivre et davantage intégré au reste de la ville,
explained Françoise Souliman.
