In Nice, will the central police station be transformed into a sports complex?

Occupied for over a century and a half by law enforcement (military and then police), the Auvare barracks , in the heart of Nice, is preparing to turn a page in its history. By 2026, all personnel will leave their historic central police station to join the future police headquarters , currently being developed on the former site of the Saint-Roch hospital.

This move will free up nearly 41,000 square meters just a stone's throw from the city center, offering Christian Estrosi 's municipality a great opportunity to redevelop the site. With this in mind, the town hall launched a public consultation on Monday, May 6, open until August 31, to gather residents' opinions on the future uses of the site. Among the initial options discussed: the establishment of a large urban sports center.

This project, still in the study stage, includes a multi-purpose sports hall with stands, a space reserved for neighborhood associations, as well as an outdoor field with free access. "This project would allow us to respond to several challenges, notably that of the saturation of sports clubs," Anthony Borré , first deputy mayor responsible for security, told Le Figaro . "There is a real demand for this and the current land pressure does not offer us a multitude of solutions." The elected official also welcomes the use of participatory democracy to decide on the future of the barracks.

But the proposal is not unanimous. On social media, some residents of the Saint-Roch neighborhood are questioning the project's relevance. "A school or a college would be more useful," says one resident. Others point to a lack of transparency. "When the mayor launches a consultation, it's already too late, everything has been decided," accuses one Internet user. Another recurring concern concerns the fate of the administrative detention center (CRA) , attached to the barracks, whose future remains unclear.

The police officers' move to the future police headquarters is, moreover, part of a broader strategy of pooling resources. This new site, designed as a "security continuum," will bring together, by 2026 for the first time in Nice, the national police, municipal police, border police, and territorial intelligence services, on more than 50,000 square meters. A one-stop shop for administrative procedures will also be installed there, including the management of complaints. The high-energy-performance building also aims to improve the working conditions of officers and address the unsanitary conditions of the current police station, whose jails were condemned by the courts in 2023. A unique project in France and Europe, costing €214 million, is 72% financed by the State and €12 million by the PACA Region.