A dozen cranes stand on the site between Boulevards Marshals and Périphérique (Paris ring road) in the north of the 19th arrondissement. As part of the urban reconstruction project north-east of the French capital, the main work is done in the warehouse Macdonald an area of 160,000 sq.m. Warehouse, built in the time by freight carrier, will soon change its function and appearance. This huge concrete monolith length of 610 meters (the length of the Ile Saint-Louis) is preparing for a second life.
The main purpose is to transform this derelict region into a residential area. In 2015 there will be 28,000 sq.m of offices, 16,000 sq.m of space for rental companies, 32,500 sq.m of retail space, as well as a business hotel, public facilities (gym, colleges, schools) and more than 1,100 dwellings, half of them - social. Currently, the average apartments are selling for €7,500 per sq.m. It's planned to open offices in summer 2014, the residental property - in 2015.
The photograph shows: social housing in the 19th arrondissement of Paris
You can go to the region by tram since the end of 2012. "This new district will be in the 7th line of the metro and RER E (one of the five lines of the Paris trains, Regional Express Network. - ee24.com). There will appear almost 3,600 new residents and 5,000 jobs, including the Claude Bernard, area of improvement, located near the warehouse," explains Marie-Anne Belin, CEO of Semavip, which coordinates the development of the project.
Another transformation of the area will be the opening of large cinema UGC in October 2013.
The photograph shows: tram near the Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement of Paris
"Near the underground stations Crimée and Corentin-Cariou, in Flanders, prices vary from €4,500 to €6,500 per square meter," says Frederick Wu of the agency Solvimo 19th arrondissement.
Converting warehouse MacDonald has not yet changed the reputation of the area that was in ruins for many years and has been isolated from the rest of the 19th arrondissement. This area is actually one of the cheapest Paris areas, but this could change in the coming years.
Text: Marina Malova, ee24.com
Photo: lemonde.fr