Finding the right land for a successful real estate development is a hands-on process. At Villes & Villages, this task falls under the purview of the Development Department. We spoke with its director, Pierre Mottet.
As an independent regional developer, Villes & Villages designs residential projects from the selection of the site to the finishing touches on each property. And a high-quality project begins with carefully selected land. Indeed, the land and its location are the raw materials of a real estate development, and the search for them is handled by the Development Department, a three-person team led by Pierre.
Its mission is to identify new land opportunities throughout the Alpine corridor, from Grenoble to the Geneva area, including in mountainous regions. The Development team therefore travels extensively throughout the region“in search of the highest-quality land possible that aligns with Villes & Villages strategy.”
Listening to communities and their needs
This ongoing research also requires careful monitoring of calls for proposals issued by local governments and urban planning documents (such as amendments to local urban planning regulations, for example). “We stay closely attuned to what is happening in our region. And we pay close attention to the needs of local governments.”
In response to these needs, Villes & Villages innovative residential developments, including, for example, inclusive housing and senior housing, co-living spaces, micro-daycare centers (such as the one in Copponex), and public facilities such as a medical center, as in Sciez. It is also based on these expectations that the company designs and develops managed, tourist, senior, and student housing.
In addition, to develop innovative projects, a competition unit was established in 2021 to address the major urban development projects in our sector. Our entries in these competitions provide excellent opportunities to develop innovative and unconventional concepts (such as the shared rooftop greenhouse at the PIXEL in Chambéry, or the “palaver boxes” that encourage interaction among residents).
Discover CŒUR VILLAGE, a new development in Copponex featuring shops, a micro-daycare center, and a bed-and-breakfast! RIVESUD isa new residence in Sciez, located right in the heart of town and home to shops and a medical center. Or check out LE PIXEL, a new development in Chambéry, with its shared greenhouse and community lounge.
What makes a "prime piece of land" for a successful real estate development?
In response to this question, Pierre Mottet highlights several factors. The overall location is very important:“the presence of nearby amenities and services, and good access to public transportation.” Another factor concerns the land itself:“its orientation and sunlight exposure, the views it offers, and how it fits into its immediate surroundings.”Everything is taken into account when assessing a plot’s quality and its potential for development.
Interactions with people… right in the field!
Like a true conductor, the Development Department also coordinates all the stakeholders involved in bringing a real estate project to fruition: notaries, architects, engineering firms, surveyors, landscape architects, and more. As the primary point of contact for landowners in the early stages of projects, team members often remain in touch with them long after a project is completed:“It’s not uncommon for them to recommend us to other potential sellers.”
During these conversations, warm relationships sometimes develop. “In Les Ollières, the owner asked us if we could include a reference to his grandfather—who had farmed this meadow for many years—in the name of the development.” And that is how Villes & Villages now Villes & Villages Les Vergers de Marcel
Discover LES VERGERS DE MARCEL, a new development in Les Ollières featuring contemporary architecture and offering new apartments and villas
