A “foodhall” project in the 17th arrondissement of Paris has until November 29, 2023, to “regularize” the successive building permits granted by Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Despite this setback, the gourmet hall is still set to open just 5 minutes away from Place Péreire and 10 minutes on foot from Parc Monceau.
The real estate and commercial company Banville, a subsidiary of Gecina, plans to build a 1,300 m² “foodhall” at 153 rue de Courcelles in the Plaine-Monceau neighborhood. The company was initially granted a building permit on February 11, 2020, for “change of use,” “extension,” “additional levels,” and “modification of the exterior appearance” of the seven-story building. However, the neighboring co-owners of 155 rue de Courcelles lodged a complaint against the first permit, leading the city of Paris to grant a “modifying” permit to the developer.
Gecina was then authorized on May 5, 2021, to change the use of the premises from retail and office to create a terrace on the first floor, modify the facades, and reorganize the space of the 27,000 m² building. In November 2021, the administrative court of Paris deemed the project to be in compliance with the local urban planning rules.
In a recent ruling dated June 29, 2023, the administrative court of appeal in Paris largely confirmed the previous judges’ analysis, stating that the project poses no risks to the natural resources and that it does not infringe upon any protected buildings nearby.
However, the court did note that additional provisions for loading, unloading, and handling operations should be made due to the significant increase in commercial and office space. This requirement will need to be addressed in order to obtain the final building permit.
Despite these regulatory challenges, the foodhall project is expected to proceed and offer a unique culinary experience in the heart of Paris.
