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Post by luckyluc on Jun 10, 2008 10:44:59 GMT -5
According to the lastest news (Le Parisien, Le Figaro, Le Monde) La Samaritaine closed for the past three years might be reopening in 2013. The new incarnation will be commerces on rue de Rivoli, offices, a few social housing and on top a luxury hotel facing the Seine with a fabulous view.
In number that would be Offices 26.000 m2, commerces 26.000 m2, Hôtel 14.000 m2 and social housing 2.400 m2. The next step is the approval of the City Hall.
The presentation was made yesterday by Phillipe de Beauvoir the PDG of the group that own the store. The great staircase will be save and as much as 2,000 jobs.
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Post by holger on Jun 10, 2008 10:59:54 GMT -5
That would be wonderful! maybe they would have the top floor with a restaurant so the views over the city would be available.
What is "social housing"?
The hotel we have stayed at is right by Samarataine and so every time I walked by the closed building I felt sad. Would love a condo on an upper floor, though.
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 10, 2008 11:29:58 GMT -5
Holger! What a great idea! Let's ask Truffaut to start looking into co-oping an apartment at the new Samaritaine building! That would be lovely... I agree with you, though. My heart gives a little tug whenever I see the grand old building. I hope the news stays positive. Thanks, Luc. PS. Yes, what is social housing?
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 10, 2008 11:33:52 GMT -5
I too was wondering what "social housing" meant as I read Luc's post. It conjures up images of low-income housing or similar to me. I'm so glad to hear there are plans in the works to reopen the building.
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 10, 2008 11:37:11 GMT -5
I think it's housing subsidized by the government, which sounds like low-income housing to me.
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Post by Anne on Jun 10, 2008 11:59:17 GMT -5
Yes, it is low-income housing, subsidized by the local authorities . it is called H.L.M., Habitations à Loyers Modérés . H.L.M. range from run-down buildings in poor suburbs to beautiful appartments in highly-sought areas in Paris . These top appartments with very low rents are supposed to be for low income people too, but the city of Paris has a long history of renting these appartments to high-ranking state or city officials or to their children . There is a scandal about this every now and then . Mayor Delanoe swears that this was the former mayor's doings and that he makes it his business to clear up the situation, but I would be VERY curious to find out how they will select the lucky tenants of the Samaritaine building !
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 10, 2008 12:20:38 GMT -5
Very interesting, Anne. Thanks for the insight. Reminds me of something mentioned in Stephen Clarke's "A Year in the Merde".
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Post by ouiparis on Jun 10, 2008 14:27:07 GMT -5
Thanks, Anne. I think I read about the low-rent apartment scandals in Gopnick's Paris to the Moon and/or Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong.
2013?!
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Post by holger on Jun 10, 2008 15:10:32 GMT -5
Can I be low income, please?
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