• The city of Rennes has rethought its project to extend the Palais du Commerce to République, in the face of opposition from certain associations.

  • The building that houses La Poste will be transformed into a large shopping center by 2025.

  • Its surroundings should be vegetated in order to counter the overly mineral aspect of the Place de la République.

This was the point that crystallized the tensions. On Tuesday, the city of Rennes announced that the extension planned as part of the transformation of the Palais du Commerce was abandoned. In the initial project, the Joffre square located to the east of this emblematic building marking the border between the north and the south was to be capped with an imposing extension. The visuals distributed by the Frey group selected as part of the call for projects showed a construction of five to six floors instead of the small square, which today serves as a bus station. An abandonment motivated by "exchanges on heritage, but also the desire of Rennais and Rennais for a less mineral city center", specifies the city in a press release. Several associations had contested this choice of extension in front of the Place de la République.

To revitalize the plot, the city wishes to revegetate it.

Will the nine chestnut trees that host colonies be preserved?

It will be up to the inhabitants to decide through a public consultation, promises the city, which evokes "a refuge of biodiversity" that it is a little difficult to imagine.

One thing is certain, the square will become pedestrianized after the departure of the buses by 2024.

Owned by Poste Immo, a subsidiary of the La Poste group, the Palais de la Poste will have its arcades closed by glazed elements.

The arrangements planned for the roof of the building have also been redesigned even if large openings are planned "in order to illuminate the living spaces on the 5th and 6th floors".

Restaurants, a hotel, shops ...

Erected on a surface of 12,000 m² spread over 5 floors, the palace was built from 1889 to 1929 after covering the Vilaine and has housed several institutions and shops throughout its history. By transforming it, the city and Poste Immo hope to welcome "a variety of programs to make it a meeting place and destination, including shops, a post office, catering places, coworking, a training school and hotel ". Major brands such as Decathlon City, AM.PM, the high-end decoration brand of La Redoute, Citadium or even Lego had for a time been announced.

The Frey group and Poste Immo should inject 85 million euros to ensure its transformation.

"This remarkable heritage building will no longer only be crossed but will become a place of destination, open and accessible to Rennais and Rennais", promises the city.

Scheduled to start in 2023, the work should be completed in 2025.

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