Mission Grand Coeur

The Grand Cœur mission aims to protect, enhance and revitalize the historic heritage, built environment and public space of the Ecusson, Montpellier's historic district, as well as the surrounding suburbs: les Aubes, les Beaux-Arts, Boutonnet, les Arceaux, Figuerolles, Gambetta-Clemenceau, Gares nouveau Saint-Roch, Antigone and Mermoz.

It acts:

• For housing: reactivate and diversify the housing market by rehabilitating uncomfortable or unhealthy housing stock, by new construction and by bringing vacant premises back onto the market.
• For trade: vitalize trade and crafts, in particular by strengthening and adapting the real estate offer in this area.
• For built heritage: preserve the charm and heritage of the town center, enhance historic buildings and monuments, encourage refurbishment and combat tagging.
• For the living environment: develop public spaces, improve the functioning of daily life (cleanliness, safety...), carry out actions in favor of associative life.

Mandatory facade refurbishment

Facade enhancement is one of the components of the Grand Cœur mission, which aims to improve the quality of life in the city center.

Renovation is an operation that involves enhancing the entire facade of a building through work on:

• walls, facings and slate roof breaks
• joinery and ironwork
• networks and air-conditioning units
• signs and awnings

These various interventions are adapted on a case-by-case basis and according to the regulations in force at the address of the facade.

Subsidies granted by the City

Since 1990, the City has subsidized facade restoration work in the city center. Although the subsidy scheme came to an end in 1998, restoration work is still compulsory.

Subsidy granted by the City for the Celleneuve district

A subsidy continues to be granted for restoration work undertaken until June 2026.

Who needs to carry out restoration work?

• property owners
• co-property owners (via the condominium manager)
• shopkeepers who want to improve their attractiveness

Renovations carried out on the initiative of a single owner are fairly straightforward. In the case of condominiums (residential and/or commercial), the restoration work must be initiated and carried out by the condominium manager, in order to obtain the opinion of all co-owners at general meetings.

The City finances up to 70% of renovation work on the shopfronts of ground-floor business premises in order to support commercial activity in the city center.

Who can benefit?

• the leaseholder (commercial, craft, liberal professions or self-employed businesses) whose annual sales n-1 do not exceed €800,000 excl. tax for the premises concerned;
• the owner of vacant commercial premises (premises that are unoccupied, without tenants and without a lease) and with a view to re-letting them;
• the owner of commercial premises with sales not exceeding €800,000 excluding VAT (with the written agreement of the leaseholder authorizing the work).

For what type of work?

• All work forming the shopfront (window, frame, threshold sign, vertical side panels, awning, canopy, closing device...) is subsidized, as well as ancillary work related to the rework of the bay, integration of the air conditioner... (in red on the diagram)
• All improvements and work inside the business, behind the window, are not subsidized, as are the following items:
  • full roller shutters,
  • new air-conditioning units, heat pumps (air conditioners), as well as refrigerated banks or removable counters,
  • elements positioned behind the shop window (lights, screens, decorative elements...),
    all elements installed on the facade (decorative elements, advertising, menu holders, spotlights...).

A grant may be awarded for the sole purpose of changing the sign (in blue on the diagram) independently of any other work related to the shopfront on condition that the shopfront is compliant and in good condition.

Amount of subsidy

• In the case of a complete renovation of the shopfront: 70% of the total cost (excluding VAT) of the subsidizable work, up to a ceiling of €750/sq.m. of shopfront and a maximum amount of €8,000 per shopfront.
• In the case of a change of sign, without work on the shopfront: 50% of the total cost (excluding VAT) of the signs, up to a ceiling of €700 per business.
• For any fees paid to the project manager (architect): 70% of the total cost of the architect's fees excluding VAT, up to a maximum of €1,500, based on two services:
  • Service 1: up to €750 for work carried out in connection with the various applications for authorization required (drawing up project and work execution plans, compiling the file for prior declaration of work, sign application and accessibility work application).
  • Commitment 2: maximum €750 for work supervision (participation in the selection of contractors, coordination and supervision of the various trades until completion of the work).