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The relocation of the Gustavia school group to Saint-Jean is undoubtedly one of the most talked-about issues of the mandate that began in March 2022 under the presidency of Xavier Lédée. In the JSB, of course, but also because of the protesting press releases issued by the Saint-Barth d'Abord group following the abandonment of the initial project drawn up under the previous mandate, in January 2023. These publications of discontent were accompanied by a petition launched by the same group to demand that the project be relaunched, which garnered over 1,600 signatures. Be that as it may, over the last few months and after much procrastination, a new project has been launched.
The first concrete step was taken in April, on the 8th to be precise, with a decision by the Collectivité's Executive Council.cutif de la Collectivité, officially designating Fabienne Bulle architecte et associés as the winner of the architectural competition. This "square" project was preferred to that of Lotus Architectes and Sam Architecture. The elected representatives of the Saint-Barth d'Abord group were delighted with this official re-launch.
In a press release, the elected representatives point out that it was during the previous term of office, presided over by Bruno Magras, that the Saint-Jean site on which the new school complex will be built was purchased. For the sum of ten million euros. Unfortunately, at the start of the current term of office, the "Union Equilibre" group chose to abandon this project," regrets SBDA. This interruption not only meant a loss of time, but also considerable additional costs for the Collectivité. "
In an online publication, President Lédée also announced the relaunch of the project. He explains: "Preparation time was essential to add to this project the solid foundations essential to make it a success. "He mentions a specific area to accommodate disabled people, and the installation of 1,300 square meters of solar panels, "four times more than at the outset", he assures us. The President of the Collectivité also mentions the presence of a multi-purpose room "capable of hosting innovative experiments and workshops".experiments and innovative workshops" and a 104-space parking lot ("Four times as many as originally planned", adds Xavier Lédée).
For the record, and for the sake of brevity, it might be useful to review the project's chronology. On November 4, 2021, the Collectivité territoriale, under the presidency of Bruno Magras, launched its first architectural competition. The relocation of the Gustavia school complex to Saint-Jean is an idea that goes back several years. On January 4, 2023, the Executive Council of the new presidency officially designated the winner of the design competition for the construction of the new school complex. However, a few days later, on January 17, the elected members of this same executive council voted to abandon the project. With the exception of Romaric Magras and Alexandra Questel, SBDA territorial councillors. On August 28, 2024, after a stormy general committee meeting during which the elected representatives learned that all the procedures had to be relaunched, the executive council validated the organization of a new competition.
A new school complex would thus be built on Saint-Jean. Without housing for the national education staff. However, the current site of the Gustavia school complex is to be converted into housing.
