Port Vauban plan finally gets needed citizen input
ASAP Antibes, an organisation aiming to steer the development of the port of Antibes, meets this week to kick off a year-long consultation process.…
Patrick Gilliot, who has spearheaded new efforts to see Antibes’ Port Vauban developed in accordance with yacht industry and citizen interests, will this week hold a conference to formally launch the ASAP Antibes agenda. With the aim of getting the city’s plan to develop the port—one of the yacht industry’s busiest by gross tonnage—back on track, ASAP Antibes will announce a series of specific working groups and seek members to join their campaign to drive a more consultative process for the marina and environs.
“We formed this association to work with the city and Eric Paguet, the mayor of Antibes,” Gilliot, who is president of yacht crew outfitters Dolphin Wear, said. “We felt that they could not talk about the development of the port without talking to all of the people who work and live here. There’s a huge amount of knowledge on marinas and boats here, and it’s completely stupid not to use this knowledge. The city agreed to listen to us, and I said we will be pushy and we will be critics if we need to be. But we support the development process—we simply want to make sure our ideas and concerns are considered.”
ASAP Antibes will convene working groups covering the superyacht community, as well as others concerned with Port Vauban—which remains one of the Mediterranean's superyacht hubs. They hope to clarify the City of Antibes' plans for its waterfront, engage Antibes' citizens in the process and help ensure whatever happens next brings the city and its historic port closer together.
ASAP Antibes has already floated a series of goals for the proposed development, including establishing Vauban as a technological “port of the future,” concealing car parking in underground lots rather than on quay-side and rehabilitating the walkway and ancient ramparts of the port.
“Everyone here is concerned about and affected by the potential development,” Gilliot said. “But we have not, until now, been properly consulted and involved. Our goal is to change that and make sure the people and the port join the city in this next phase of Antibes' future.”
“We formed this association to work with the city and Eric Paguet, the mayor of Antibes,” Gilliot, who is president of yacht crew outfitters Dolphin Wear, said. “We felt that they could not talk about the development of the port without talking to all of the people who work and live here. There’s a huge amount of knowledge on marinas and boats here, and it’s completely stupid not to use this knowledge. The city agreed to listen to us, and I said we will be pushy and we will be critics if we need to be. But we support the development process—we simply want to make sure our ideas and concerns are considered.”
Patrick Gilliot, president of ASAP Antibes
ASAP Antibes will convene working groups covering the superyacht community, as well as others concerned with Port Vauban—which remains one of the Mediterranean's superyacht hubs. They hope to clarify the City of Antibes' plans for its waterfront, engage Antibes' citizens in the process and help ensure whatever happens next brings the city and its historic port closer together.
ASAP Antibes has already floated a series of goals for the proposed development, including establishing Vauban as a technological “port of the future,” concealing car parking in underground lots rather than on quay-side and rehabilitating the walkway and ancient ramparts of the port.
“Everyone here is concerned about and affected by the potential development,” Gilliot said. “But we have not, until now, been properly consulted and involved. Our goal is to change that and make sure the people and the port join the city in this next phase of Antibes' future.”
Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.
