Student residence in Saint-Mauront -
C. Delabroy / 20 Minutes
The Observatory of Inequalities places seven arrondissements of Marseille among the poorest in France, and the 3rd arrondissement in the lead.
At the exit of the National metro, in Saint-Mauront, the vast Les Docks Libres housing complex brings in new inhabitants.
"Become an owner less than ten minutes from the Old Port thanks to free VAT".
When leaving the National metro, in the 3rd arrondissement of Marseille, this large advertising billboard summarizes all the contradictions of a district once again classified as the poorest in France.
According to the latest report from the Observatory of Inequalities, published last Thursday, the seven poorest districts in France - that is to say those where a single person lives on less than 900 euros net per month - are located in Marseille. .
With a poverty rate of 53.4%, the third district has nearly 25,000 poor people.
It is followed by the 15th, 1st, 14th, 2nd, 13th and 5th arrondissements.
Next comes the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
In Saint-Mauront, in the 3rd arrondissement, a vast real estate complex has grown on a former port wasteland, under the leadership of Nexity.
At first glance, the district offers a renewed face when exiting the metro, with the La Marseillaise tower in the background.
The “free docks” combine offices, housing and shops.
Louis, 36, left the beautiful districts of the 8th arrondissement for an apartment in one of these brand new residences.
“I work at the CMA-CGM tower, it was closer for me and also it was the opportunity to buy, he says.
I discover the neighborhood.
There is a bit of incivism, but like everywhere in Marseille.
I expected that there would be in the building only North African or black sub-Saharan communities like me, but there are also Europeans, I think it's rather mixed.
"
"The change is essentially focused on housing"
Further on, Sarah, 32 years old and a tenant here for two years, is also all smiles.
“The building is clean, new, I changed for that,” she says.
The entrance is with a beep, there are cameras in the parking lot, it's secure.
Afterwards, it's the same neighborhood, the same people.
I didn't want to change, there is everything here.
"
On leaving the student residence, Dede, 24, tempers the optimism a little.
Arrived two months ago from Togo for a master's degree in law at the Aix-en-Provence site, she would like to get closer to the university: “Housing is good, but there is a deal in the area.
I don't feel safe, especially at night.
"
Going up rue Félix Pyat, the renovation gives way to degraded dwellings in the city of Bellevue.
Here and there, islands of renovation are dotted, especially near the A7 motorway, in the Auphan-Charpentier sector.
“It's a district that is undergoing total change,” observes Reda Debache, director of the Maison pour tous de Saint-Mauront.
When Nexity moved its head office there, it was a strong gesture on the part of the promoter.
But the change is mainly focused on housing, there are gaps in the living environment.
Behind, the services do not follow.
I mean schools, green spaces, parking too.
"Who really are these people who live in these residences," he also asks, curious to know the impact on neighborhood life, in terms of needs, and no doubt of opportunities.
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