Paris abandons controversial structures at the foot of the Eiffel Tower

Paris town hall announced on Sunday that it has abandoned planned structures at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in a controversial plan to develop the surroundings of the monument, which attracts 20 million visitors each year.

The OneE project, presented by the capital’s Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo, intended to vegetate and pedestrianize the surroundings of the “Iron Lady,” has sparked months of municipal opposition and criticism from environmentalists.

He planned to cut down about twenty trees at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, some of them centuries old, to store goods for customers and build a courtyard for employees.

The town hall was canceled in June after protests from several communities and individuals.

Hence it has also decided to abandon four planned structures. “I announce the complete and simple cancellation of any construction project at the foot of the tower, while continuing the landscaping project,” First Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced to the Sunday newspaper (JDD).

“The whole philosophy remains the same,” he insists. “We are going to implement 95% of the OneE project, which means the continuity of the landscape from the Trocadero to the Champ-de-Mars, faithful to the original design, respect for the heritage, with less cars and more nature.” .

“Very good news”, responded AFP Christine Nedelec of France Nature Environment (FNE), “but the permits (for construction) are still relevant (…) we are waiting for the permits to be withdrawn” .

Thomas Brail of the National Tree Monitoring Group (GNSA) added, “Satisfaction for now, but we will remain vigilant.