Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, a real oasis of greenery
By Laetitia Rossi - 10 July 2013
With 22,230 inhabitants, this commune to the west ranks 12th among the towns forming “Le Grand Lyon”, offering a preserved environment and lots of clubs and associations. Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon is only 10 minutes from Place Bellecour, overlooking the Rhône and the confluence of the two rivers.
The 1,687 acres comprising the territory of Sainte-Foy, of which 316 form a greenbelt, play host to 540 firms and 130 shopkeepers. The aqueduct of Le Gier, Télégraphe Chappe tower, Sainte-Marguerite Chapel and Church of Le Bourg are reminders of its past. While the municipality encourages the development of activity zones, it also promotes neighbourhood shops. Buses link this leafy address to the prefecture of département 69.
“A perfect compromise between urban and rural scenery, Sainte-Foy is extremely popular,” says Muriel Rambaldi of Murs et Tradition. “Benefiting from public transport, it is less than 10 minutes from Place Bellecour in Lyon.” The colourful and authentic village gives priority to house sof real charm, opening out to gardens sometimes as large as 2,000 m2. This market segment does not, however, see many properties come up for sale. Muriel Rambaldi is currently proposing a house of 140 m2 right in the centre, on three floors, beauitfully renovated, with an outdoor area of 70 m2, priced at 455,000 €. Sainte-Foy’s main asset lies in the diversity of its various neighbourhoods. The immediate environment around the Hospital is ultra-residential, characterized by villas with generous volumes. One of them - 300 m2 with a garden of 1,200 m2 - recently found a taker at 1,250,000 €. This type of property is likely to be of interest to a company director, self-employed professional or senior executive working in Lyon. On the other hand, the Chavril neighbourhood near Place Saint-Luc and the 5th arrondissement contains residences built in the 1960’s and 1970’s, pegged at 2,000-2,500 €/m2. Over towards Plan-du-Loup/La Gravière, near Francheville, an apartment of 82 m2 in perfect condition with a balcony and garage, in a residence with a park, can be had for 179,000 €. Fans of new developments can also be satisfied. As shown by the marketing, so far successful, of “Côté Parc”, a soundly-built block of apartments with terraces and garages near the Parc du Brûlet, proposed at 4,200 €/m2.
“Sainte-Foy benefits from an elevated position and therefore a double panoramic view of Lyon to the east and the Monts du Lyonnais to the west,” explains Christian Lafaye of Sainte-Foy Immobilier. The second largest greenbelt in the capital of the département, 800 metres as the crow flies from the motorway, has five different access routes, all flowing smoothly, not far from Gerland with its international secondary school. Turned towards Lyon and the Alps, Rue Georges-Clemenceau, Avenue Valioud and the Chemin des Fontanières boast some desirable properties : old apartments here range from 2,000 to 4,000 €/m2, new ones can attain around 6,000 €/m2 in high-end developments. Monasteries have been transformed into co-owned residences, examples being Le Don Bosco, Le Planit and La Dovay. A property of character of 110 m2 (three bedrooms) here would cost 510,000 €. Finally, 990,000 € is the asking price for a house of 270 m2 in perfect condition, designed by an architect, facing Les Monts du Lyonnais. The market is active, though only properties which have been correctly estimated are likely to sell.