Residential Attractiveness as a Public Policy Goal for Declining Industrial Cities: Housing Renewal Strategies in Mulhouse, Roubaix and Saint-Etienne (France)

Abstract

Residential attractiveness is a relatively new concept coming from a territorial development paradigm based on competitiveness and public policies in order to restore the social mix by an inverted social diversification. Residential attractiveness is progressively becoming a central feature of public policy in renewal processes for declining cities. Mulhouse, Roubaix and Saint-Etienne are emblematic cases of these housing renewal strategies. These cases reveal strategies of attracting new populations to nurture economic growth: the former population seemingly a social burden. Politically sensitive questions asked in a social contex are, what are the results of residential attractiveness as a public policy goal? Considering the case of Roubaix, some results of this policy are presented.