Allowing owner-occupiers, as renters, to take advantage of significant financial assistance and free advice to renovate and/or improve their properties over 15 years old… Planned Operation Urban Renewal of Housing (OPAH-RU), carried out in 2020 and for five years in the district Fonderie, is beginning to bear fruit, attracting the interest of investors.
University, KMØ, House of Industry, Emerging Industrial Village, new pedestrian/cyclist bridge connecting Oran and Isly piers currently being completed, Bat.36 dedicated to engineering, Le Nomad restaurant, La Kunsthalle, real estate programs such as Green Follow Lofts , the restoration of Place Kleber… You only need to open your eyes and see the changes in the Foundry, which have been conducted by public-private partners since the beginning of the 21st century. Transformations that also concern old private housing, which are carried out as part of the planned housing operation of urban renewal (OPAH-RU for lovers of the acronym) in Fonderie and the neighboring district (see map of eligible housing).
From 60% to 90% assistance for the execution of works
Marc-Antoine Vallori Renovation operations follow one after the other, such as the building located on the corner of Laederich and Kléber streets.
“The aim is to enable owners to rehabilitate and renovate their property (houses older than 15 years) while benefiting from a comprehensive site and free support: technical, administrative and financial. Everything is being done to make life easier for owners, with significant assistance in carrying out works, which can now reach 90% for owners and up to 60% for renters. We also acquire properties that we then offer for sale,” summarizes Mohamed Kadri, head of housing at Citivia, the public urban planning company authorized by the city of Mulhouse to manage the system.
445 housing units out of 806 targeted housing units were processed
Started in July 2020, the OPAH-RU Fonderie, which lasts until July 2025, is gradually bearing fruit with 445 processed housing units, 5.7 million euros of work achieved and 1.7 million euros of subsidies issued by the National Housing Agency (ANAH) , the City of Mulhouse, m2A and the European Community of Alsace. “We are somewhat below the initial goals, which were high (editor’s note: 806 targeted housing units and 4 million euros in subsidies over five years), Citivia admits. However, we know that we are entering the initial part of the program and that often during the last year things settle down. The context did not help with the increase in the price of materials, which led the owners to postpone the works, and created difficulties for potential investors in obtaining loans from banks for the realization of quality projects. »
Opposing parties
Marc-Antoine Vallori Following the transformations of the Fonderie district in recent years, Kléber Square will be remodeled.
A prerequisite sine qua non for benefiting from financial assistance according to OPAH-RU, the owners must fulfill precise specifications for the execution of works, which refer to energy saving (companies must, in this case, have RGE certificate), upgrading to standards, adaptation loss of autonomy or even the repair of common and outdoor areas… Other benefits specifically requested from landlords to benefit from financial assistance: monitored rents for a period of six years under the Loc’Avantages system, also allowing you to benefit from variable tax reductions depending about the income of future tenants.
A neighborhood with great potential
“The Fonderie district, which has 20% ownership and 80% ownership, has great potential because it is close to the university, the city center and the train station,” emphasizes Mohamed Kadri. We feel real interest from investors (read below) for apartments as well as entire buildings for which we are also looking to create a project, provided that there is a commercial ground floor. » This or that announcement of the opening of nice addresses should happen in the coming weeks…
+ information: [email protected] – 03.89.60.67.46 – citivia.fr
Opportunities for investors
The Planned Urban Renewal of Housing (OPAH-RU) underway in the Fonderie district and surrounding areas offers real opportunities for investors. There are numerous examples of successful renovations in the sector, such as the one carried out in Laederich Street, on the scale of the entire fully renovated building, which now offers eight rental units for 630,000 euros of work invested, including 306,080 funded by grants (ANAH, City, m2A and CeA – read our article). Another example, rue de l’Arsenal with a 2-room apartment of 29 m² bought for a modest sum of 19,500 euros, to which is added a little more than 15,000 euros of works that the buyer pays for a total investment of 35,700 euros, that is, almost 60% of the total price of the works covered subsidies (read our article).