the mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris responds to Anne Hidalgo

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A political quarrel against a backdrop of ideological disagreements around a project already postponed. And a question. What will become of Place du Trocadéro? For several years, the City of Paris has been advocating a transformation of this emblematic place in the 16th arrondissement located below the Eiffel Tower. Objective, to offer more space to pedestrians, cyclists, and begin a cycle of revegetation. This design must now convince Parisians. An online consultation requested by Anne Hidalgo is open until Thursday January 26, 2025.

The precedent of the Pont d’Iéna

Residents are therefore asked to submit suggestions as advisory. Proposals which will then be “analyzed and made public”, as indicated by the City. The process will lead to the presentation of a final project. The socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo has already made it known that she wishes perpetuate the pedestrianization of the square, implemented during the Olympic Games, like the Pont d'Iéna.

But the opponents intend to prevent this plan. In the first place, the LR mayor of the 16th arrondissement, Jérémy Redler. On the social network X, Friday December 27, 2024, the town hall of western Paris shared a counter-consultation taking the form of a leaflet on which the “negative” consequences of potential pedestrianization are listed.

According to the town hall of the 16th arrondissement, “horseshoe circulation” would in particular lead to a “ increase in intervention time » “emergency vehicles”. In addition to the transport aspect, she fears an “immediate increase in insecurity» and a “decrease in turnover of shops ».

Added to this is concern about “access, attendance and delivery methods for major national museums”. Fears around an “increase in accidentology» and “the pollution» are also mentioned. Finally, the town hall of the 16th arrondissement mentions possible “congestion harming the tranquility of local residents» and “an isolation(ation) of the 16th century”.

A suspension of the formal notice

Recently interviewed by The Parisian, Jérémy Redler had already expressed hiswrathfollowing the launch of this consultation. In the fall, the Paris police chief, Laurent Nuñez, declared in the regional daily that he was putting the City on notice. A decision ultimately suspended as part of this consultation, as indicated by the City.

In 2023, the authorities, represented by prefect Didier Lallement, had already rejected a project to redevelop Place du Trocadéro.

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