These photographs, taken in August 2010 in Paris, show a row of buildings awaiting demolition. Until recently, these provided accommodation for housing, a hotel, shops and workshops. The empty shops and the almost entirely abandoned apartments will soon be bulldozed to make way for a large new structure.
The project to redevelop the buildings between numbers 1 and 9 rue Bichat and 43-45b rue du Faubourg du Temple in the 10th arrondissement of Paris has been planned for some time. The council of the 10th arrondissement approved the project on 9 May 2006.
Presenting a technical report to the council, Sylvie Scherer described the buildings proposed for demolition as of 'mediocre quality'. Some of the buildings already had been condemned dangerous. Cracks were visible in floor boards and on ceilings and the wooden structure was judged fragile and full of woodworm. Inhabitants of the buildings also risked lead poisoning, according to the technical report.
The council proposed to demolish the existing buildings and build a new structure to house 80 subsidised flats, a creche, gardens and an underground garage. Space would also be allocated for the insulation of shops on rue Bichat. The council approved unanimously the project, which had projected cost of 21,228,000 euros in 2006. [1]
The development was due to begin in 2008 and be completed in 2010, but the process has taken somewhat longer than originally planned. Most of the tenants of the existing apartments and shops only moved out in July 2010, and demolition work had not commenced in September 2010.
The likely demolition of the rue Bichat buildings led a Paris history blog to place the area on its list of urban heritage in danger. The blog believes the Bichat buildings represent an important part of nineteenth-century working class history, and that the building at 45 rue du Faubourg du Temple dates from the eighteenth century.
Judging by the recent exodus of tenants from the buildings, it seems the preservationists' pleas to preserve the area have fallen on deaf ears. In my view, the real problem is not the demolition of the crumbling buildings but the fact local businesses have been forced to move out of the area. The restaurants and cafes in rue Bichat were bustling centres of the community, and the little shops provided specialist services to locals. The artisanal shops offered knowledge to their customers that is almost impossible to find in large chain stores. At a time when ironmongers, electrical bazars and shoe repairers are vanishing from our streets, it seems unlikely that any of these local businesses will return to the area, even if new premises are provided for them several years down the line in the redevelopment.
Jacob Paskins
[1] Mairie du 10e arrondissement, Compte rendu du conseil d'arrondissement en date du 9 mai 2006, pp. 16-18.
The project to redevelop the buildings between numbers 1 and 9 rue Bichat and 43-45b rue du Faubourg du Temple in the 10th arrondissement of Paris has been planned for some time. The council of the 10th arrondissement approved the project on 9 May 2006.
Presenting a technical report to the council, Sylvie Scherer described the buildings proposed for demolition as of 'mediocre quality'. Some of the buildings already had been condemned dangerous. Cracks were visible in floor boards and on ceilings and the wooden structure was judged fragile and full of woodworm. Inhabitants of the buildings also risked lead poisoning, according to the technical report.
The council proposed to demolish the existing buildings and build a new structure to house 80 subsidised flats, a creche, gardens and an underground garage. Space would also be allocated for the insulation of shops on rue Bichat. The council approved unanimously the project, which had projected cost of 21,228,000 euros in 2006. [1]
The development was due to begin in 2008 and be completed in 2010, but the process has taken somewhat longer than originally planned. Most of the tenants of the existing apartments and shops only moved out in July 2010, and demolition work had not commenced in September 2010.
The likely demolition of the rue Bichat buildings led a Paris history blog to place the area on its list of urban heritage in danger. The blog believes the Bichat buildings represent an important part of nineteenth-century working class history, and that the building at 45 rue du Faubourg du Temple dates from the eighteenth century.
Judging by the recent exodus of tenants from the buildings, it seems the preservationists' pleas to preserve the area have fallen on deaf ears. In my view, the real problem is not the demolition of the crumbling buildings but the fact local businesses have been forced to move out of the area. The restaurants and cafes in rue Bichat were bustling centres of the community, and the little shops provided specialist services to locals. The artisanal shops offered knowledge to their customers that is almost impossible to find in large chain stores. At a time when ironmongers, electrical bazars and shoe repairers are vanishing from our streets, it seems unlikely that any of these local businesses will return to the area, even if new premises are provided for them several years down the line in the redevelopment.
Jacob Paskins
[1] Mairie du 10e arrondissement, Compte rendu du conseil d'arrondissement en date du 9 mai 2006, pp. 16-18.
