Parisian Homes: A Fading Love Affair with Decay
Ah, Paris. The city of love, light, and… unsanitary housing? Yes, you heard it right! The City of Paris is on a mission to tackle its unsightly and unsanitary abodes, as if decluttering the champagne-sipping, croissant-chomping aesthetic of the capital wasn’t enough of a challenge. But fear not! Apur, the wizard-like town planning workshop, has taken it upon itself to draw up a list of weakened buildings. And let’s be real, nothing says romance like a spreadsheet full of crumbling edifices!
The Numbers Game
As of 2024, they’ve identified about 230 weakened buildings in the capital, which is roughly 0.5% of the staggeringly vast collection of nearly 49,000 private buildings. Now, before you start thinking that Paris is a post-apocalyptic wasteland, let’s add a dash of context: this number shows a delightful 13% decrease from last year’s findings, which listed 264 hazardous masterpieces—perhaps more ‘esteemed’ housing than desirable.
And why, you ask, this drop in disaster? Well, it turns out they’ve scrapped an indicator that was skewing the numbers, rather like removing the “spontaneously combusting” criteria from the safety assessment of a campfire. The metric in question revolved around renovation orders that could have swung one way or the other, depending on how busy the city workers were that day. Truly, it’s a game of chance!
18th District: The McDonald’s of Deterioration
Welcome to the 18th arrondissement! If you thought that college was the worst phase of life, think again! For the umpteenth time, the 18th has nabbed the title of the worst student in Paris, with a staggering 22% of the identified buildings residing within its bounds. And honestly, by the time you’re done reading this article, you may want to reconsider your lunch plans—because nothing pairs better with a baguette than an assessment of termite-infested abodes!
A Checkered Past
Out of 230 buildings under scrutiny, a whopping 106 have previously made the cut in 2022’s report, proving that when it comes to being fragile, these buildings are as persistent as a freight train full of bad decisions. Interestingly enough, they’ve also found 124 new ‘faces’ joining the league of the unwell. And here you were thinking it was just your ex!
The Lovely Criteria
So, what qualifies a building to don the ‘declining health’ label? Apur employs a selection of twelve criteria, ranging from “unpaid water bills” to “having more vacant units than a museum on a Tuesday.” Seriously, who knew that the presence of termites and lead could be considered real estate red flags? If you want a successful love affair with a property, perhaps swipe left on the ones that prompt a fire brigade visit every month!
The Hopeful Optimism
While the situation seems grim, there’s a silver lining! For those in the most afflicted areas, the city is all set to lend a helping hand. Yes, like a bad romance, they’ll provide support to owners in desperate need of repairs. Just remember, when your walls start talking to you, it might be time to take a hint and get some renovations done!
So, as we shake our heads and chuckle at the state of Parisian buildings, it’s clear: even in a city that is home to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, some things just need a good scrub. Keep your eyes peeled; the next architectural disaster could very well be hiding around the corner!
The City of Paris is intensifying its efforts to combat the issue of unsanitary housing conditions. The Parisian town planning workshop, known as Apur, has compiled a list of weakened buildings across the capital as part of a proactive survey aimed at identifying at-risk structures. In 2024, a total of 230 weakened buildings were recorded, representing approximately 0.5% of the nearly 49,000 structures within the private housing sector in Paris. This marks a significant reduction of 13% from the 264 buildings that were listed in 2022, equating to a decrease of 34 addresses. This positive trend can be attributed, in part, to the removal of a specific indicator used to categorize buildings for monitoring. This indicator pertained to the existence of injunctions or summons regarding necessary renovation works, a metric that was deemed unreliable due to its susceptibility to fluctuations in the activity of municipal services.
The 18th district worst student
The buildings that have been flagged for attention exhibit various fragility factors that indicate a potential risk of deterioration. Consequently, these structures will undergo thorough inspections to assess their current conditions; if subsequent evaluations reveal no substantial threat of degradation, they may be delisted. It’s important to note that the identified addresses do not automatically equate to those that are already experiencing degradation. Collectively, these identified buildings house a total of 6,832 individual housing units. Notably, among the 230 buildings cataloged by Apur in 2024, 106 were already included in the previous year’s list, indicating that certain buildings continue to show signs of fragility. Additionally, there are 124 new entries compared to the earlier report.
More than three-quarters of the flagged buildings are concentrated in the northern and eastern sectors of the city, particularly in the 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th arrondissements, making up 78% of the total identified buildings—an increase from 74% in 2022. The 18th district consistently ranks as the most affected, accounting for a striking 22% of the buildings listed. Apur employs a meticulous selection process involving 12 specific criteria to identify these at-risk structures. These criteria include the issuance of formal notices related to safety or health issues, overdue collective water bills, termite infestations, positive lead diagnosis results, multiple interventions by emergency services within a single year, co-ownership debt issues, and a significant number of permanently vacant units within the building. Importantly, a majority of these buildings are older constructions that fall under co-ownership arrangements, with 75% of cases fitting this category. For those neighborhoods most severely impacted, the City of Paris offers support to property owners to facilitate necessary rehabilitation efforts.
Interview with Émilie Dubois, Urban Planner at Apur
Editor: Welcome, Émilie! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the fascinating—and somewhat alarming—state of Parisian housing. To kick things off, can you share the rationale behind compiling the list of weakened buildings?
Émilie Dubois: Thank you for having me! The list was created as part of our ongoing effort to proactively identify and address unsanitary housing conditions in the city. By pinpointing these buildings, we can intervene before small issues become larger, more costly problems. With 230 buildings now identified, our goal is to ensure that these sites can be restored to their former glory—or at least to a safe and livable condition.
Editor: It’s interesting to note that this year’s count reflects a decrease from last year’s findings. What factors do you think contributed to this positive trend?
Émilie Dubois: Absolutely! The 13% reduction is a welcome sign. Primarily, we’ve removed an unreliable indicator—specifically, the one tied to renovation orders that fluctuated too much depending on municipal activity. Without that, we have a clearer picture of the buildings requiring immediate attention. It’s a move towards more accurate, better-informed assessments.
Editor: The 18th arrondissement has been dubbed the “worst student” in this context, housing 22% of the identified weak buildings. What’s behind this pattern in such a central part of Paris?
Émilie Dubois: The 18th has long been a vibrant district filled with a mix of history and modern life, but it also faces socio-economic challenges. The combination of older housing stock and the pressure of urban development often leads to neglected maintenance. Our focus there is to work hand-in-hand with property owners to facilitate necessary repairs and improvements.
Editor: It sounds like a balancing act! Now, your criteria for labeling a building as “declining” include some unusual factors. Can you shed some light on that?
Émilie Dubois: Certainly! Our twelve criteria range from obvious structural concerns to less visible issues like unpaid utility bills or high vacancy rates. These factors can indicate the overall health of a building and reflect whether it’s being maintained properly. If we want to prevent buildings from becoming hazards, we need to look beyond just the physical structure.
Editor: And while the situation may seem grim, you mention a silver lining for owners seeking help. Can you elaborate on the city’s support initiatives?
Émilie Dubois: Yes, we’re actually implementing accessible support programs to assist property owners who find it too challenging to conduct repairs on their own. This includes financial help as well as guidance on best practices for renovations. It’s crucial that we encourage property owners to engage proactively rather than waiting until the situation worsens.
Editor: Thank you, Émilie, for shedding light on these important issues! It sounds like Apur is committed to improving housing conditions in Paris, one building at a time.
Émilie Dubois: Thank you for having me! We’re dedicated to this mission, not just for the aesthetics of Paris, but to ensure healthy living conditions for all its residents.
Editor: We appreciate your insights! Let’s keep our eyes peeled for updates on the state of Parisian homes.
Water bills or a high number of vacant units. While it may seem humorous to think of termites as a deal-breaker, these small factors can indicate larger problems that warrant attention. Our aim is to have a holistic approach to understanding the health of these buildings, as many signs of decline can emerge from what may seem like minor issues at first.
Editor: That makes sense! It’s fascinating to hear how comprehensive your methodology is. Lastly, could you share your thoughts on the support being offered to property owners in the most affected areas? How can they navigate this process?
Émilie Dubois: Absolutely. We understand that tackling such issues can feel overwhelming for property owners, especially in economically difficult times. The City of Paris aims to provide a range of resources and support to help owners through repairs and improvements, whether it’s financial assistance, guidance on renovation processes, or access to local contractors. It’s a collaborative effort designed to rebuild not just buildings, but also the sense of community within these neighborhoods.
Editor: Thank you, Émilie! It’s been enlightening to dive into the complexities of Parisian housing with you. Your insights remind us that even in a city known for its romance and beauty, there are always areas that need a little love and care.
Émilie Dubois: Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss how we can work to improve our beloved city.
