[1] A major landowner of agricultural fields, he became a real estate developer as the city of Marseille grew.

[1][2][3] As explained on his public bust, he developed the neighbourhood of Le Camas, and what later came to be known as the Boulevard Chave, both in the 5th arrondissement of Marseille.

[3][4] He had a son, Nicolas Chave, who inherited the neighbourhood developed by his father.

[1][5] He commissioned architect Gaudensi Allar (1841-1904) to build a private residence on the corner of the Boulevard Chave and the Place Jean Jaurès.

[6] The architect's brother, André-Joseph Allar (1845-1926), designed a bust of his father, which is still displayed there.