Balexert

Balexert
Main hall of the Balexert
Basic data
Location:	27 Avenue Louis-Casai, Vernier
Opening:	1971
Total area:	55,000 m²
Sales area :	50,646 m²
Shops:	110
Owner :	Migros Cooperative Geneva Center Balexert SA
Website:	www.balexert.ch
Transport links
Bus stop:	Balexert
Tram :	14, 18
Omnibus :	10
Parking spaces :	2200

Balexert (also called Center Balexert ) is a shopping center in Vernier in the canton of Geneva . It is located just outside the city limits of Geneva , between the two arterial roads towards Meyrin and Geneva Airport . The Balexert, which opened in 1971, has 110 shops on a total area of ​​55,000 m². This makes it one of the five largest shopping centers in Switzerland ; in French-speaking Switzerland , it is the largest. A multiplex cinema is integrated into the complex .

history

The term Balexert comes from bel essert and describes a beautiful reclaimed place. From the 15th to 17th centuries, the area was owned by the Balexert family, originally from the Pays de Gex , who lived in a tower there and were represented in the powerful Geneva butchers' guild. In 1860, in the midst of the extensive domain, the Château Balexert was built , a stately country house in the Second Empire style. In 1957, the Migros Geneva cooperative and the Au Grand Passage department store (later merged into the Jelmoli group) began to buy up the parcels in the triangle between Avenue Louis-Casaï, Avenue du Pailly and Route de Meyrin. In 1958 the château was demolished.

Both companies carried out a feasibility study to build an American-style shopping center on the site. In 1971 the first expansion stage was opened. There were 40 shops on an area of ​​27,000 m², plus a two-story underground car park . In 1999, Pathé opened a multiplex cinema with 13 screens right next to the Balexert ; With a total capacity of 2300 places it was the largest facility of its kind in Switzerland at the time.

The impending construction of a new tram line to Meyrin prompted Migros to start planning the second expansion stage in 2001. The Green Party exercised despite the direct tram connection criticism of the project and took in February 2007 referendum . However, she was unable to collect the required number of signatures within the deadline. The Geneva cantonal government issued the building permit in January 2008, and construction began two months later. The expansion of the shopping center opened in October 2010.

Web links

• Center Balexert (French)
• Pathé Balexert (French)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Balexert. Vernier municipality, accessed December 3, 2014 (French). 
2. ^ Dominique Torrione-Vouilloz: Balexert. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
3. ↑ ^{a b} Historique. Balexert, accessed December 3, 2014 (French). 
4. ↑ Cinémas Pathé Balexert. genevanight.ch, accessed on December 3, 2014 (French). 
5. ↑ Les Verts lancent un référendum contre l'extension du center commercial de Balexert. Les verts genevois, February 6, 2007, accessed December 3, 2014 (French). 
6. ^ Extension du Center commercial de Balexert à Vernier. Conseil d'état du Canton et République de Genève, January 9, 2008, accessed on December 3, 2014 (French). 
7. ^ Chiffre d'affaires du Center commercial de Balexert. (No longer available online.) Migros, January 18, 2013, formerly in the original ; Retrieved December 3, 2014 (French).  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.    

Coordinates: 46 ° 13 '7.9 "  N , 6 ° 6' 47.2"  E ; CH1903:  497720  /  119467