For a long time, the renovation project for the Gare d’Austerlitz, in the 13and arrondissement of Paris, has suffered little challenge. It was even astonishing, when it included the same ingredients of the highly contested file of the Gare du Nord: a large commercial liner – 100,000m2ten floors – was to be erected between the great hall of the XIXand century and the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital.
But the outcry in the north, which led to the definitive abandonment of the project managed by the SNCF and the real estate property of the Auchan group, gave wings to the detractors of the one that was looming south of the Seine. Petitions, demonstrations, wishes in the Council of Paris, administrative appeal, alternative project: everything has been tried to demand the revision of an operation at 1 billion euros, judged “from another time”, “in contradiction” with the Paris agreements and the “fight against climate change” led by Semapa, Altarea-Cogedim with architect Dietmar Feichtinger and developer Kaufman & Broad. Until this last card brandished on May 20: a complaint against X for embezzlement of public funds addressed to the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office.
Behind this action, the motivations are the same as those formulated over the past two years: the 300-meter-long building, in concrete and glass, which will replace former SNCF premises on the A7A8a island is excessive, too bulky, too dense, according to France Nature Environnement, SOS Paris and InCOPruptibles, the three associations at the origin of this complaint. The program, with its 50,000 square meters of office space, 16,000 square meters of shops, some 140 social and intermediate housing units and 80 student studios, will create “a gigantic heat island”will increase the comings and goings, and therefore pollution, they believe, despite the good service of the site.
Call for the vigilance of the Senate
This file is also that of a necessary renovation of the station, with the public which needs the private sector to finance the work, and SNCF Gares & Connexions which values its land, which is worth gold, to renovate the building. Gare du Nord, an abundance of shops and a theater were part of the solution. Left bank, these are the offices. However, another angle of attack was needed to seize the criminal judge, and it is therefore the acquisition by the French Development Agency (AFD) of 50,000 square meters of office space to be built which is targeted.
In January 2020, this organization in charge to finance development projects abroad obtains authorization from its board of directors to bring together all of its teams and those of its subsidiaries Proparco and Expertise France in one place – 2,500 people in total, 2,800 by 2025 – and to move 20% of them to flex office.
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