Geneva voters to decide Chêne-Bourg housing rezoning

Voters in Geneva will decide on November 29 whether a villa district in Chêne-Bourg should be rezoned for ordinary construction, SRF reported. The vote follows a referendum launched by left-wing groups against the change.

The Seymaz-Sud site covers about 41,400 square metres. The cantonal government and Chêne-Bourg authorities had proposed turning 30,260 square metres into a development zone, citing its proximity to the railway station. A conservative majority in the cantonal parliament instead approved a standard building zone.

Left-wing groups, trade unions and the tenants’ association ASLOCA warn that the change could encourage property speculation on land that has benefited from public investment. Geneva is facing an acute housing shortage, with a vacancy rate of just 0.31 percent.

Development zones in Geneva require social diversity and controls on prices and rents. They provide for one-third each of non-profit housing, rental apartments and condominiums. Those requirements do not apply in an ordinary building zone. Cantonal law also says residential construction rezoning must use development zones while the vacancy rate remains below 2 percent.

The conservative parliamentary majority and an owners’ association representing 80 percent of the affected plots argue that selling at market prices would speed up construction. They say the plan could deliver up to 400 homes more quickly.