Demolition of the Ni-box in Monaco: where is the project for the future bowling alley in Cap-d’Ail?
Scaffolding has, for several months, covered the immaculate facade of the Ni-Box. By spring 2024, if the announced timetable is respected, the building nestled in the Portier and devoted to the youth of Monaco – and the surrounding area – will be razed to make way for a neuehousea place of co-working, culture, catering and exchanges.
The younger generation loses, among other things, an eight-lane bowling alley. A temporary situation – no doubt the story of a few years – since in October 2021, the Minister of State Pierre Dartout confided to the elected members of the National Council that a “place of resettlement” had been “identified on the ground floor of the ZAC Saint-Antoine in Cap-d’Ail”, on avenue Marquet precisely.
Six minimum bowling lanes
In December of the same year, a call for interest was published in the Journal de Monaco for the rental, by the state-owned operating company, of commercial premises of 1,273 m², in French territory therefore, for “the operation of a bowling alley with a minimum number of six lanes and possibly additional recreational activities such as billiards, various games.
Since this official publication, no operator has been selected among the nominated candidate(s).
UN status quo of this file denounced, last Thursday in the Hemicycle of the National Council, by Balthazar Seydoux in his amending budget report 2022.
“While it seemed that the government had found a private buyer, the economic reality of a substantial investment and the insufficient prospects of profitability seemed to indicate that this project will not succeed, explained the Vice-President of the National Council and President of the Finance and National Economy Committee. Therefore, it is essential that this activity continues and that a solution is found as soon as possible.”
“The premises will be used for this activity”
In response to questions from Monegasque parliamentarians, the Minister of State wanted to be reassuring. “Local [identifié] seems to us the most appropriate to host the bowling because of its surface and its location. It will therefore be intended for this activityintroduces Pierre Dartout. The people presented presented a proposed quality project, in addition to bowling, other fun activities able to meet the expectations of our youth. Discussions are underway to find a financial balance for the project with the end goal that it can succeed and that the bowling can open as soon as possible.
Mystery, however, on the identity of the required buyers and the expected opening date.
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Asked for more information, the princely government did not wish to follow up.
What project to replace the Ni-Box after 2024?
Inaugurated in the spring of 2010 as a leisure center for young people and now slated for demolition, the Ni-Box will be replaced by a new concept by the name of Neuehouse (the town planning file had been unanimously validated by the elected members of the municipal council, October 26, 2021).
Already tested in the United States – whether in Los Angeles, Miami or New York – this one combines co-working, places of exchange and culture.
The future five-storey building will be fitted out: an event space, in the second basement, opening onto the outside and the port of Mareterra; an amphitheater, a projection room, a bar and reception rooms on the ground floor overlooking Boulevard Louis-II; co-working spaces on the first and second floors and, finally, a restaurant on the roof terrace of the future building.
Delivery before summer 2024?
The project architect, Emmanuel Deverini, has completely redesigned the premises. The building will be completely vegetated, for the sake of harmony with the future Mareterra district. The backbone should be largely concealed.
Pedestrian traffic in the neighborhood will be optimized with the creation of public elevators and pedestrian paths. A forecourt, moreover, should extend the current backbone by overhanging it and spanning the tracks of the Portier roundabout.
As for the duration of the site, it was then a question of 26 months of work, including 4 months for the demolition and 9 months of structural work. As for the delivery of this new building, it is scheduled for May 2024, according to an article published on the Pastor Immobilier website, at the helm of this private project.