This weekend’s Symphonies Gourmandes show comes hard on the heels of Sm’art and Coté Sud which both took up the whole of the Parc Jourdan. And this type of event is turning out to be a big money-spinner for the town of Aix.
Parc Jourdan is much in demand. But how much can the local residents stand?
The Parc Jourdan which is divided into 11 zones is let at 106 euros per day per zone. So far this year, it has yielded 35,938 € to the town authorities. The Torse can be occupied for 530,50 € per day while 4 zones of parc Saint-Mitre or the Bastide de Cézanne cost 53€ per day.
Due to the drop in funding from the state, Aix makes the most of every centimetre it can rent out:
- a butcher installing a rotisserie for cooking chickens has to pay 206 euros per year
- a florist pays 46,50€ a year for each shrub outside the door
- banks pay 213 euros for each ATM on the street
- post-card and calendar stands cost 11,50 each per year
- fast food counters have to pay 871 € per month in centre ville
- news kiosks are charged 422 euros per month in centre ville
The town’s coffers are also swelled by income from publicity hoardings and moving displays – 900,000€ last year.
Back in Parc Jourdan, local residents aren’t too happy about the commercialisation of the green space. Firstly there’s the noise, disruption and difficulty parking, but secondly they can’t enjoy their park on their walk into town. The mayor has understood that there is a problem and the team are working on a solution which probably involves limiting events to just a few high-profile expos.
Info based on article in La Provence.
aixcentric 
Leave a Reply