Opponents of this development planned in the 11th arrondissement win the round, but the city could go before the Council of State
The Paris administrative court has suspended the dismantling of the May-Picqueray square fences – © Chabe01/Creative Commons
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In Barcelona, the Ramblas are the city’s main promenade arteries and, located in the middle of the traffic routes, almost reach the seaside. The city of Paris was inspired by this model to create plant-filled promenades on the boulevards. Jules-Ferry and Richard-Lenoir (11th arrondissement), which cross the center of the capital from Place de la Bastille for almost two kilometers. This project immediately aroused strong opposition from local residents who created the Sauvons Jules et Richard collective and launched, in May 2023, a petition entitled “Let’s save the four squares of the Promenade Richard-Lenoir”.
A strong passage
Opponents fear that this project will lead to the reduction of play areas for children and that the disappearance of the gates surrounding these squares will encourage groups of people who are fond of drinking alcohol. The gates of the square located opposite the Bataclan were dismantled on May 16. A “forceful passage”, believes the collective, which filed a suspensive summary, demanding an impact study on the fauna and flora. On May 28, the Paris administrative court ruled in favor of the opponents. He suspended the removal of the fences from Square May-Picqueray, as well as the permit to install sidewalks on the quays of Jemmapes and Valmy.
The judge considered that this work was “part of a more global and unique project to create a large promenade in eastern Paris called the Bastille-Stalingrad promenade”, covering more than 10 hectares. “Given its nature and its size”, this project constitutes “a development operation” and should have “been the subject of an environmental assessment”. The city of Paris could appeal to the Council of State.
A.T.
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