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Geneva: The inhabitants of a condemned building make resistance
The owner of a rental wants to destroy it to rebuild in place of larger apartments. “Pure speculation,” protests in current residents.
The building of 11-15-17 place des Augustins should be replaced by a building including shops (at the UNZ), offices and more spacious accommodation, according to the owner, Zurich Assurances.
drag/20minAfter successive postpones, the tocsin could sound in May 2026, for a six-story building (and three aisles) located in the city center, in place of the Augustins. Its owner, Zurich Assurances, wants to destroy the building to erect a new one. In the absence of rehousing proposals, the residents of the seventy apartments-often of the two or three-pieces-have mobilized. A petition is underway, the Assloca tenant defense association is on the spot and anger rumbles.
“We just received a letter to tell us that we had to leave, and that’s it, that’s all,” laments a senior. A mother is worried: “Despite my numerous research, I have not yet found where I relocate.”
Rent increase in view
Member of the neighboring association of the Place des Augustins, a tenant denounces a “pure speculation” on the part of the owner. Take advantage with future larger housing and rents necessarily revised (very) upwards? This is obviously the idea, ensures the resident, while “this building, where some have lived for sixty years, where prices are affordable, is quite good condition; In addition, part of the apartments were renovated about fifteen years ago. ”
The speculative question also concerns the defenders of the tenants, because the file is particular. Unlike renovations or heights, cases of demolition-constructions are indeed rare at the end of the lake: “the cantonal law allows it only if the project offers a substantial number of more apartments, around 50%, in practice”, explains Christian Dandrès, lawyer for ASLOCA.
But here it is: Zurich Assurances’ plans “provide less accommodation, because the new ones will be more spacious. It will participate in aggravating the crisis. ” The number and effective size of future apartments will therefore be at the heart of the legal battle that ASLOCA is preparing to lead.
The owner is explained
Zurich Assurances, who is still awaiting authorization to demolish, does not hide his desire to offer larger housing, “for families”. But this is not the only argument put forward by the owner of the Augustins to justify the replacement of the current building. Today, this “does not meet electrical, seismic and sustainability nor standards for people with disabilities”. In addition, says Zurich Assurances, the “dilapidated” state of the premises would impose “important renovations in the years to come”.
Relove the inhabitants? Not easy
The housing crisis is a constant at the end of the lake, and finding a roof there is the obstacle course. It is also a solitary struggle, because even in the case of a demolition decided by the owner, as in the Augustins, the federal law does not provide for an obligation for the latter to relocate the inhabitants. “In Geneva, cantonal law may require it, but only under certain conditions,” says Christian Dandrès. For his part, Zurich Assurances says he is “willing to support residents in their research, as far as possible”.