ean-Claude Villemain, mayor of Creil, would he be angry after the positions taken by his opponents whom he modestly calls “his detractors” and which lead the media (national or not) to focus on the city’s real estate file . Honestly, yes. This led the chief magistrate to organize a press conference intended to review point by point the files regularly cited in the opposition.
Everything goes there. The hostelry of the river, the Châlet, but also the famous house on rue Victor Hugo, the apartments of the Roseraie without forgetting the emblematic Chic Parisien.
The devastating headline published in particular in a national media “The real estate affairs of the city of Creil” quite simply makes the chief magistrate jump. In the streets, in cafes, there are those who “absolutely don’t believe it” and others who are just as convinced, “there is no smoke without fire”.
Since the fire is breaking out, we might as well attack the base of the flames and smother the hearth.
Quietly seated at a table in one of the work rooms of the town hall, Jean-Claude Villemain, supporting document, intends to defuse this controversy once and for all during a meeting on Wednesday, December 11.
“All our actions in terms of housing or development are part of public urban renewal policies contracted with the State in order to benefit from public funds. All real estate transactions are subject to an opinion and an estimate from France Domaine. All acquisitions and sessions are the subject of a deliberation voted on in the municipal council and validated by the legality control. The point is preliminary.
A preamble which seemed necessary to the first magistrate before starting the substance of the case, real estate matters. “The so-called real estate affairs,” Béatrice Lejeune, ACSO chief of staff, hastens to clarify.
This is because, currently, only a report is made to the public prosecutor and no complaint is filed by anyone. The presumption of innocence does not even apply, since there is therefore no complaint.
So, what is the starting point of these famous real estate files?
At the top of the files… L’Hostellerie de la Rivière
The river hostelry is in a good place. It must be said that this hotel business which was entrusted to the Montador company made headlines. The walls do indeed belong to the city. “I remind you once and for all that we had to match the price set by the estates. I also remind you that this decision was taken in municipal council and that it was validated unanimously. Who today says they are surprised by the amount set? The major difficulty comes from having entrusted the management of the restaurant and the hotel to Christophe Lefebvre, also a friend of Jean-Claude Villemain. The best proof, for detractors, is that he appeared on his city council campaign list. “On the one hand, it appeared in last position and on the other hand, the agreement with the Montador company was signed well before the municipal campaign. The bottom line is that we absolutely wanted to preserve the catering and hotel activity of this hamlet which, in our eyes, has heritage value,” explains Jean-Claude Villemain.
The restaurant and hotel were operational at the time. This would explain the rush to operate the establishment again from 2019. Jean-Claude Villemain does not wish to cast too much blame on the company’s management difficulties. Loss of customers, notably that of the Alata park which was no longer found in this establishment, then a covid crisis which largely contributed to the financial difficulties of the hotel restaurant. Suffice it to say that all the conditions were not met for success.
A security commission goes through there, it notes shortcomings, it comes back the following year, noting a serious security alarm problem for the hotel industry. “I had no choice but to close the hotel. It was my responsibility. This is what was done,” says Jean-Claude Villemain loud and clear.
Previously, the restaurateur had been received at town hall three times in 2022 and 2023. The idea was to put in place a debt clearance plan. The financial situation was not improving and the company had virtually no chance of turning things around.
But the operator also left with the wooden bell, leaving a significant bill. “Since 2020, rents were no longer paid even though the company had signed a lease for 9 years. A shortfall of 140,000 euros but the company has not filed for bankruptcy. A procedure has been initiated,” confirms the mayor.
Vaux area, the city persists and signs
For the city, it is now and above all a question of preserving a 2-star restaurant and hotel area. A rather rare offer in Creillois. The town therefore continues to invest in this hamlet, in particular by purchasing the chapel, also formerly a restaurant, and also says it wants to purchase the castle, the day it is for sale. “Once again, it is a question of preserving the land and historical capital of the city.”
As for the Hostellerie de la rivière, the call is made for a new investor to take over. It will be necessary to carry out work to bring it up to standard, among other things. “The call for projects should be carried out in January 2025,” says the mayor.
The Chalet, bought for 350,000 and sold for 280,000 euros
Other issues are highlighted such as the Chalet, this bar overlooks the station and today gives a very bad first image of the city given its degraded state.
“During the sale of this property, in 2021, Eplo intervened within the framework of the land action plan as part of the city heart action program.
The public establishment purchased the property for €350,000. The restaurateur who took over the establishment at a price of €280,000 was able to do so thanks to a 25% property reduction which is a system specific to the City Heart Action Convention signed by Epflo. In this agreement, mention is made of this possibility of land reduction with the aim of economically upgrading an establishment.
A sort of boost to the operator in short to enhance the neighborhood. And then there is the story of the veranda which was installed on public property. The former manager occupied this space without rights or title. As part of the future buyer’s rehabilitation project, the municipality carried out its decommissioning in April 2024. A price set by France Domaine of €6,800 was given.
One condition is that the establishment retains its economic aspect, therefore a brewery activity.
The Roseraie and the acquisition of apartments, the house plus 55 rue Victor Hugo for €270,000 or even the Chic Parisien which remains an emblematic establishment in the heart of the city, are all issues that the chief magistrate takes on without batting an eyelid. The objective of the latter is to enhance the existing property while preserving the façade, which is considered exceptional.
“Nothing that is done is achieved without the assistance of the State, the search for public subsidies and therefore meticulous control. How can we think for a second that these operations cannot be clear?” affirms Jean-Claude Villemain.
The social landlord Oise habitat, of which the mayor of Creil is president, must carry out all of the work, estimated at 2 million euros. Oise habitat should also acquire the building. Indeed, in this context, the municipality, still by deliberation in December 2022, agreed to transfer the symbolic euro site to Epfo.
“Oppose ideas of agreement… To the person, never!”
The mayor concluded: “that we attack the office of mayor and that we oppose the decisions taken, I can completely understand it, but there is something that does not pass, it This is because people are trying to discredit me personally. I don’t admit that. We have families too. We come to talk to them about issues that absolutely do not concern them by smearing our people. I speak for myself, but also for several deputies and city staff. I find this unacceptable and I urge everyone to initiate procedures when necessary. For my part, it makes me mean,” says Jean-Claude Villemain with determination, not forgetting in passing to point out that his favorite animal is the elephant and that the latter is known for “not forgetting anything”.
Whether or not this position calms the detractors is ultimately of secondary importance. Being in the spotlight, being in the spotlight, also means accepting criticism, admitting mistakes sometimes, accepting opposition debate.
“This is the problem, I want to debate, but I regret that these same municipal elected officials, due to their inability to take up the files presented in municipal council, stigmatize our city and call into question the integrity of its elected officials, me in particular and more seriously, on that of the administration which ensures respect for the law.
This is what is said.
