Toulouse: Saint-Simon, the “village” district that is growing and opening up to social diversity
The largest district and one of the least populated in Toulouse, is experiencing strong population growth. Colleges and schools are being built, and equipment will follow. With concerns about town planning and traffic.
It is one of the most unknown parks in Toulouse. Located to the south-west of the Ville Rose, the Parc de Gironis suffers from its proximity to the A64 motorway. But the residents of Lafourguette, a district of more than 6,000 inhabitants integrated into district 6.4 with Saint-Simon and the Oncopole, find a green setting there. Which deserved a good refreshment.
The rehabilitation of the Gironis park
The town hall of Toulouse has invested €450,000 in it, including €200,000 for accessibility. The consultation phase is now complete. The town hall and the residents have decided to change the street furniture, to create a dog park, paths, sports equipment with the renovation of the pétanque court and a fitness trail.
On the edge of the Grand Mirail, Lafourguette stands out from Saint-Simon.
The metropolis recovers the roads of the Milan, Park and Rocade complexes
The Milan complex, with the Rocade, Parc and Milan estates, 400 private condominiums, is currently under construction. And the road system has just been handed over to the Métropole, which wants to renovate it.
“Lafourguette, like Saint-Simon, has this village heart to which the inhabitants are very attached,” explains Nina Ochoa, the district mayor.
Between these two districts, the areas of Oncopole, Thibaud and Chapter, sector which includes the most companies in Toulouse: “4200, including a majority of SMEs”, says Nina Ochoa.
On the Saint-Simon side, as in Lafourguette, the district is “under renewal”. The construction of a gymnasium has already been completed, next to the new Guilhermy college, near La Ramée. “It will be by the end of the term,” said the neighborhood mayor.
Cultural facilities in Saint-Simon, sports facilities in Guilhermy
A new cultural center will also be set up in the former Paul-Bert school, with dance and music rooms in particular, by 2024. A new community hall has been opened, and a social center in Tibaous. Projects that prosper neighborhood associations, vigilant but with density and traffic problems. As with the problems of illegal installation of travelers, Guilhermy side.
New residents near the college
In the new subdivision emerging from the ground next to the new college of Saint-Simon, near Eisenhower Avenue, the first inhabitants have arrived, but construction is still in progress. The district mayor affirms that the agreement has been reviewed with the promoter for the road network, with “even more room for active modes of transport, the bicycle in particular”. A response to the traffic problems denounced by the inhabitants.
In addition to the two new colleges in the area, a temporary school has been open since 2021 on Boulevard Eisenhower, and work on the “hard” school group has begun. Indispensable to absorb strong population growth in the district.
Nina Ochoa, district mayor: “Thanks to vigilance and citizen participation, burglaries are decreasing”
The Saint-Simon district concentrates certain concerns, in terms of traffic and urban planning. Where are you ?
A consultation is continuing on the subject of traffic in the district. Working groups by zone, street by street, have been set up. One-way passages are retained, rue Réguelongue, chemin du Loup or even Chemin du Renard. This will require wider sidewalks and room for cyclists.
The network of the Express Bike Network is also under discussion in the district, route de Seysses and avenue Eisenhower in particular. Near the heart of the Lafourguette district, it is necessary to determine whether to pass the REV here because it is quite narrow, or elsewhere.
Regarding real estate projects and densification, we recently presented to local residents the figures for building permits filed. We are careful that town planning is moderate, so as not to break the village identity of this district.
Saint-Simon had chronic problems with burglaries. What is the situation ?
We have added permanent municipal police missions, in particular to Tibaous. A camera will soon be installed on Place du Milan, in Lafourguette.
Regarding burglaries, one of the scourges of Saint-Simon, the system of citizen participation, to be all vigilant, works rather well. We have regular reports. It has calmed down significantly in terms of burglaries.
What’s happening in the Lafourguette district?
The political district of the city (QPV) of Milan, with the cities of the Rocade, the Park and Milan, 400 private condominiums, is at the center of our concerns. The road network has just been handed over to the Métropole. Before it was 100% private. The consultation on the renewal of the road network begins.