This 551-square-meter plot, which once hosted Villa Mauvillier and was at the center of a long-running dispute between the Casablanca City Council and Tower Seven Art, will ultimately be used to establish a permanent crafts fair showcasing local products.
Aziz Akhannouch made this decision on June 9, 2026, by signing the expropriation decree in favor of the City Council, a measure that must be implemented by Nabila Rmili.
According to official documents reviewed by TelQuel, the plot of land is subject to a first-degree mortgage held by Attijariwafa Bank, covering a debt of 10 million dirhams. Under the terms of this mortgage, the owner, Ahmed Chamcham, head of Tower Seven Art, was prohibited from selling or further mortgaging the property.
Originally, the site was intended for the construction of a Marriott (Marriott Bonvoy) hotel, following an agreement between Marriott International and Tower Seven Art. To that end, the villa, built in 1932, was demolished, sparking significant controversy, as some argued it was a listed building on the national heritage registry.
The City Council maintained that this was not the case and asserted its right to proceed with expropriation for public use, with plans to establish an administrative office on the site as an annex to City Hall. However, this ultimately did not materialize.
On June 10, 2025, in the absence of Nabila Rmili, an extraordinary session of the City Council voted to approve the expropriation without specifying its purpose.
Today, the uncertainty has been lifted following the Head of Government’s decision.
Under national law, Tower Seven Art and Ahmed Chamcham retain the right to pursue legal action to challenge the expropriation order. They also retain the right to contest the compensation amount set by the City Council following a direct administrative inquiry conducted between August 6 and October 7, 2025. At this stage, the compensation amount for the expropriation in the public interest has not been disclosed.
Villa Mauvillier was purchased by Ahmed Chamcham from the Bennis family for 30 MDH.
Written in French by Mohammed Boudarham, edited in English by Amina Kadiri
