At the flower market in Paris, the work is long overdue
By Clement Machecourt
Published on
updated on 28 Oct 22 at 18:48
It is an emblematic place of Paris. A small green setting placed on thecity islandwhere tourists like to stroll, and where lawyers produce their breath, the time of a break in session, during the November 13 attacks trial. The flower market, named in 2014 Queen Elizabeth II in homage to the British monarchy, has been assisting renovations for several years.
Halls dating from the 1920s
Built in the 1920s, the flower market halls show the weight of the years. The white paint on the beams is chipped, some posts supporting the roof are no longer quite straight, while others had to receive a concrete foot in the 90s to keep them on the ground.
“These are the last major works that we have seen here, blows Michel Hugot, flower seller installed since 1997. There are also some repairs on the roof which is leaking in places. He is the last merchant installed in the hall, located at the City exit of line 4 from the metro. “It makes people feel like it’s abandonedold,” he laments.
A commissioned architectural firm
In 2020, a call for projects was launched by the Paris City Hall for renovation work. Then at the beginning of the year, the town hall announced that the budget of five million planned for the works was finally divided by two.
Today, the traders who remain, there are only ten left, are worried about not having visibility on the work. At the town hall of Paris, it is indicated that there is not yet a “definite timetable for this long-term project”.
” We feel despised“, criticizes Nathalie Nouaillé. Florist arrived in 1998 at the flower market, she is in price with the town hall concerning a Paulownia whose roots grow against the wall of her shop.
A commissioned architectural firm
The only news, an architectural firm specializing in the renovation of historic buildings, began diagnostics in October.
The objective is “the complete rehabilitation of the halls to enhance them and improve their functionality while preserving the soul of this emblematic place. »
The controversies reduce the flower market of the City do not date from yesterday.
In 1973, a report by theORTF already mentioned in particular dilapidated halls and parking problems.
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