Lyon is livening up its 5th and 9th arrondissements

The 5th and 9th districts of Lyon are undergoing a metamorphosis. Le Point-du-Jour, a flagship neighbourhood in the 5th, quiet and leafy, is popular among families in search of a village atmosphere within the city. The 9th, always lively with its university and business neighbourhoods, is preparing for a revolution : in March, 2014, the Schuman bridge will link it to the 4th arrondissement across the River Saône.

Encompassing the historic neighbourhood of the Vieux-Lyon and the hill of Fourvière, the 5th arrondissement offers several different facets. Some of the buildings in the Old Town have façades decorated with gargoyles. The residential areas of Le Point-du-Jour and Saint-Irénée have also retained a few traces of the town’s Roman past. Very highly-prized, the old neighbourhoods of Saint-Georges, Saint-Jean, Saint-Paul and Saint-Just boast numerous historic monuments. With its five parks, the 5th can also pride itself on being the greenest arrondissement in the city. Extending over the neighbourhoods of Vaise, Gorge-de-Loup, Saint-Rambert-l’île-Barbe and La Duchère, the 9th is Lyon’s university centre. Undergoing transformation, its urban landscape has changed at the speed of light over the past few years. Pleas­ant and lively, it benefits from good public transport services, not forgetting the new Vélo’V, practical bikes for students.

“The property market in the 5th arrondissement has remained stable,” says Éliane Bétemps, manageress of Bétemps Immobilier, based in Lyon since 1988. “Since September, we have even seen a return to more liveliness.” Buyers are there. On the other hand, there’s a lack of properties. “Young working people, families, retirees..., there’s a mixed bag of buyer profiles. Houses are becoming rare, as are fine old apartments in the historic areas.” Equally sought-after are houses of character, former second residences owned by the middle class, in the Point-du-Jour neighbourhood. “When a lovely residence appears on the market, it is snapped up immediately. We just sold a 1900’s building in need of renov­ation for 935,000 € !” In Le Point-du-Jour, there reigns a village atmosphere which appeals enormously to families. With its twice-weekly market, numerous parks and quality public transport to the city centre or Perrache train station, this neighbourhood has been constantly embellished since the ’eighties. Apartments can be found in leafy residences at prices ranging from 2,700 to 3,000 € per sq. metre.

The other arrondissement seeing lots of changes, the 9th is the main area covered by the Era Domicilia agency, managed by Pierre-Louis Bonnier. Specializing in recent, new and practical properties, the agency proposes lots of apartments, including small surface areas which are in strong demand. “Because of its business colleges, this arrondissement is ideal for rental investors. A studio of 25 to 30 m2, ready to move in and located in the Vaise, Saint-Rambert or Gorges-de-Loup neighbourhoods, sells for 70,000 to 100,000 €. It is then easily rented out.” Recent apartments proposed by Era Domicilia with 2 to 6 main rooms are pegged on average at around 2,800 € per sq. metre. Despite a slight setback at the beginning of the year, all the estate-agents in these areas agree that the market is

stable, buoyant and diverse.

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