Malte (Annexe)
property details
for a Hub House co-operative coliving project

Environment ✧ rolling agricultural between base of mountains and plains; varied good trails

Services ✧ all; 2 bigger towns 15/25mins train (last 10pm)

Access ✧ station 20mins walk: 5h Paris direct; airport 15mins

Area ✧ the town is a well established pilgrimage site (3rd amongst catholics worldwide, 3 million visitors pre-pandemic, most foreign), thus lots of hotels (135+) with the town's population just 10k, and eateries, albeit catering to less particular older visitors
✦ is thus well connected with a direct trains from Paris (TGV and sleeper); the Toulouse–Barcelona route (3h) should also reopen with a moderate 2h connection putting it at the same duration as Paris (with a change)
✦ the airport is served year-round to Malta (nomads), Stansted, Dublin, Milan; with seasonal to Palermo (nomads), and Krakow, amongst others, with Lisbon (loadsa nomads!) likely to be added; Toulouse airport is 3h by transit
✦ nice town of Tarbes is 15mins train (last 9:15pm), great small city of Pau is 25mins (last 10:30pm)

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not immediately obviously a good workation property due to being in town, however it has the benefits of convenient facilities whilst also being very nicely positioned for nature, though from the door this a bit limited (par for most properties even often in villages), but by a short drive, or bus there's nice variety, however the better outings mainly require driving

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having been solely focussed on pilgrimage, with the forecast now that as pilgrims age (and die) there will be significantly less visitors, thus the town must change and adapt; it has introduced a mid term plan (€100m; 38m from the state) to regenerate itself and diversify thus presents a good time to invest here (thoughly probably hotel prices will continue to fall); the plans include improving its squares and some riverbank (underway), expanding pedestrian zones, better supporting outdoor sports and wider culture, plus for some novelty something to do with supporting the wool industry

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decent public garden and also a bit of grassy riverbank
✦ indoor market; a good number of cafes and restaurants (including several foreign)
✦ hikes 20mins (10mins bike) along a lane (for a 1h30 circuit climbing the adjacant hilltop, or a quicker 30mins stroll along pilgrim steps)
✦ funicular 20mins walk/bus with hikes from summit (500m ascent) and small bikepark (host to the world cup 3 times)
✦ the next train stop adds variety for return from one-way bikes (or gentle 3h wooded hike)
✦ many trails around on edge of large natural park, both easy along valleys and up into the mountains; marked biking trails with multiple loops varying from easy woods to open hills and mountainous (430km from town, 1100km total)
✦ tennis courts and hamman/sauna/indoor pool close
✦ lake very close (15mins bike/bus) with SUP; also kayaking close
✦ several climbing spots within walking distance; exceptional giant indoor climbing centre in Tarbes; 30mins to a via ferrata
✦ 20km paved greenway to mountains, good for rollerblading, 1h easy bike
✦ direct bus to pic du midi 1h15; driving into mountains 40mins-1h
✦ 30mins to cross-country ski and station with skilifts (and another bikepark), 40mins to major station (and another bikepark)
✦ thus reasonable selection of activities possible by public transport, and more interesting ones requring driving

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a bit nippy in the winter but still some good warm sunny days, actual clear sunny days are low but as there's many only partly overcast days it is still appealing, with more survivable greenery than other drier regions

Property ✧ SOLD Dec'23 for 160k
✦ as of Aug '24 redevelopment has stalled with only some plasterboard stacked inside
✦ the main hotel is for sale with 1300m2 at 400k

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represents a very safe option albeit at a cost that is maybe a bit high but offset by eliminating significant works, would be almost immediately usable with some basic furnishings and a kitchen, however whilst many rooms could be simply brought up to date, others would need new layouts to maximise value, and new common spaces opening up from existing rooms, plus ultimately new windows (except ground floor which has double glazing, albeit PVC)
✦ this said there are lots of deals here, including already renovated for the same price if a bit smaller
✦ could function as minihub with public ground floor coworking (drop-in only); would provide at least 14 rooms (currently 27 but includes some on ground floor, and apparently some without windows)

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corner building on quiet lanes just off main tourist throughfare (to be pedestrianised)

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despite not having a garden it ranks good as the roof is flat and large at 125m2 (similar to that of Nine coliving) thus easily converted into garden and a rooftop conservatory/lounge/garden-kitchen (plus has a 35m2 access/machine area roof which if made into a higher perched terrace would give better views as otherwise somewhat obstructed), plus there's another lower 1st floor roof courtyard (only open to south) for a fantastic orangerie, overlooking a neighbouring garden (would get some morning sun but looses in afternoon due to a very tall west building wall, however the roof conservatory would catch the evening rays)
✦ (if the conservatory space is a very generous 60m2 at the east end, this would leave open space for 10 people to do yoga whilst having space around the edges for plants and benches)

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~160m2 inside footprint *3
✦ +35m2 of garage annexe (courtyard above)
✦ most windows face north (6), some east (3), 11 rooms on each of the upper 2 floors (thus some do not have windows)
✦ as a result the interior light will be less than ideal, but for a main coworking/dining area with nice lighting and decoration and indeed all bedrooms this is no issue, with a sunroom/lounge on the roof, and an orangerie/library better lit spaces would be more than adequate