Expanding Fes

Took a drive out towards the Henri Laconte Tennis Academy the other day to check on Century 21 proposed residential units opposite. As always its such a bonus to have the car to go exploring sometimes with no particular mission in mind. However it was quite obvious from the outset that Fes is expanding in all directions and very rapidly.

Not only is the Century 21 backed project growing rapidly with the large billboards showing palm lined mini boulevards throughout the site, on the drive there the massive Oued Fes site on the route to Marjane is also steaming ahead. The site has been cleared of all those pesky trees, thwarting any treehuggers, and huge pipelines are lined up presumably for the artificial lakes within the complex. Is this progress? Some people would say there is no such thing as progress only change, well in this case scenario lets say there is massive change happening throughout Fes.

Outside the Kings Palace, en route to the Mellah there is now a rather fine fountain within a newly formed roundabout and also a palmlined central reservation and multiple mini fountains changing colour on the new dual stretch of road leading to Hassan 2. I can honestly say this looks great and a real improvement on the area and so well done it looks like it has been there years rather than a matter of weeks.

So continuing my drive past the Leconte Academy I ended up in areas of Fes I had never been but what was noticeable was EVERYWHERE were new builds and huge residential developements for low cost social housing, these are definitely not for tourists. So this is where the medina house owners aspire to live in and I can see their attraction. The prices are reasonably affordable and if they can unload their crumbling, unsanitary derb den onto a thrilled European visionary with pockets full of Euros, then everyone is happy, arent they?

Later on that same day I bumped quite literally into an old friend who is trying to finish his project after several years on the heights of Mt Zalagh, which when finished will have one of the coolest settings in Fes. He was excited and as far as I can gather its because the authorities had just announced the expansion of the city boundaries, rezoning several areas from agricultural to urbanisation and tourism projects. Of course this will have a massive effect on land prices and should entice more entrepreneurs to this fine city. Hope it doesnt choke the life out of the city though as its quite busy enough at the best of times thank you very much.

So although for many Europeans here the topics of conversation are still flights, house renovation, flights, house renovations and a slight drop off in clients if they looked out and beyond they would see this city is now officially a BOOM town. I'm not saying this is necessarily a good thing but there seems to be no stopping it now so either go along for the ride or move to Meknes!