Moselle-Est. Sarreguemines: Auert Corporate refocuses on tourism and abandons several projects

The historic part of the former Parc Hospital will not be transformed into a luxury hotel and gourmet restaurant . Auert Corporate is abandoning its €18 million project . The company is refocusing its efforts on developing a medical center, offices, and housing (for seniors or short-term accommodation). Work, estimated at between €400,000 and €500,000, is underway in the 1903 building to develop the common areas. "We will then sell the unfinished floors," announces Brice Auert, the manager.

Two reasons are given to justify this turnaround. "Financing was complicated to obtain, and the manager was impossible to find," continues Brice Auert. "The hotel represented 25 to 30 years of investment to get back on my feet. I tried to find support. There was none."

On Rue Clemenceau, the transformation of the former Sacré-Cœur presbytery into student housing will not be completed. The building, purchased from the City for €100,000 , a price that had been contested by opposition elected officials, is back on the market for… €270,000. “A cost price,” assures Brice Auert, who justifies this increase by the work undertaken. “240 ^m2 have been converted. The floors, painting, electrical, heating, and sanitary facilities have been redone… A ramp has been installed outside.” Part of the building is rented. “250 ^m2 remains to be completed.” Brice Auert is looking for an investor to build five housing units. “The idea is for someone else to continue this project. We have two or three options.”

These abandonments illustrate Auert Corporate's new policy. "We had positioned ourselves on the construction of housing, professional premises and tourism. We carried out a lot of projects, with a technical difficulty, the monitoring of the works." The company wishes to refocus on tourism and strengthen its presence in the south of France, where it is already established, "to develop the property trading part: buying atypical buildings, renovating them and reselling them," insists Brice Auert . "We will be less present but we continue to support Moselle-Est. We are pursuing projects that we can monitor remotely, manage ourselves in a less visible manner... As the opponents suggest, we may have to find other investors..."

Among the projects that have been maintained: the construction of a residence on rue Chamborand , including the new Norma supermarket and high-end housing, is continuing. Of the 15 planned, five have been sold, "three are under consideration." The old Norma will be demolished at the end of the year to create a parking lot in its place .

On Rue Poincaré, work continues above the Brasserie des Arts. "The exterior is finished. The interior is being built in two phases," adds Brice Auert. "With ten apartments to be completed by the end of June and 22 more by September," intended for tourist accommodation.

The project to renovate the priory in Welferding remains on the agenda , "with short-term accommodation and a small catering area for tourism." Brice Auert has approached Stéphan Schneider, chef of the Saint-Walfrid inn in Sarreguemines . "But we'll let the elections pass..." The project will also depend on the aid obtained. "It's a city entrance."