Real Estate Developers Accused of Blocking Public Transit to Casablanca Suburbs

A "lobby" of real estate developers is said to have succeeded in isolating affordable housing projects in the Nouaceur and Bouskoura areas, on the outskirts of Casablanca, after exerting strong pressure at the prefecture of the Nouaceur province, in order to delay the connection of these areas to public transportation; this has led to a slowdown in the marketing of these projects, according to sources who spoke to Hespress. According to their explanations, these influential developers have exploited their relationships with elected officials to also hinder road infrastructure projects, in order to facilitate the sale of their real estate stocks in projects belonging to them in Aïn Chock and Sidi Maârouf.

The areas concerned, which have a high population density, have been subjected to isolation for years under the pressure of real estate developers involved in suspected embezzlement of structural road rehabilitation and public transportation connection projects such as buses and taxis, the same sources add, specifying that an area of the Bouskoura commune, inhabited by more than 30,000 people, has been suffering for years due to its isolation and the lack of public transportation adapted to the needs of the residents of these projects.

According to them, the influential developers own medium and high-end real estate projects, and rely on the location, public transportation and access to essential and vital infrastructure to market their apartments at high prices.

While many of them had to lower their prices and adopt fixed prices to market the apartments, the increase in demand for affordable housing on the outskirts of Casablanca, mainly for investment purposes, has disrupted their business plans and caused them significant sales losses. A large number of residents of affordable housing projects have been forced to rent out their apartments and rent housing in nearby areas that have a connection to public transportation to the city center.

Furthermore, Mohamed Mhidia, Wali of the Casablanca-Settat region, has received alarming reports concerning the transformation of a commune in the Bouskoura municipality into a vast cluster of anarchic dwellings, under the control of intermediaries and real estate agents who have facilitated the supply of the new buildings with modern digital electricity meters. They have also participated in the allocation of "construction land" not exceeding 30 square meters to the "new inhabitants." Based on these findings, the official has instructed the governor of the Nouaceur province to conduct a thorough investigation into the anarchic urbanization in certain specific areas.

Recently, the Wali has held meetings with real estate developers in order to stimulate the construction of affordable housing, while seeking to accelerate efforts to eradicate slums in the economic capital, as part of the city’s preparation to host the 2030 World Cup, exploring the possibility of providing apartments to the residents of the remaining last slums to end this crisis.