Vote this Sunday: 500 pedestrianized and planted streets in Paris: for or against?

This Sunday, March 23, Parisians will vote on a question that could change the face of the capital: should 500 new streets be planted and pedestrianized? This is the third time Parisians have been called to the polls to decide the future of their city, after having already debated scooters and SUVs. This time, the very essence of urban space is at stake.

While Paris City Hall is banking on this vote to accelerate the city's ecological transformation, each arrondissement adds another question, concerning its territory. For Paris-Centre, the additional question is: "For or against more local shops, housing, and greenery on the Île de la Cité?" It's worth noting that the island where Notre-Dame is located has a high proportion of second homes.

The stated objective? To make Paris greener, calmer, and more breathable. But behind this attractive idea, questions arise. Which streets will be affected? How will traffic and economic activity be impacted? Opponents denounce a lack of transparency, with no specific list of targeted streets and no serious impact study.

As for the question of adding shops to the Île de la Cité, it appears to some as a Trojan horse which would allow, according to a persistent rumor, the installation of a luxury shopping center right next to one of the most visited monuments in the world, Notre-Dame and its thirteen million tourists per year.

The socialist mayor of Paris and the project's supporters dream of a greener, more vibrant island, with shops that would revive its narrow streets. On the other hand, purists cry sacrilege, waving the banner of heritage and authenticity. Especially since the nearby Ile Saint-Louis and the Left Bank offer numerous local shopping options.

In a recent book, architect Marc Perelman says no different about the changes taking place in the Parisian metropolis. He states: "The Île de la Cité is on the verge of being transformed into an 'Olympic tourist incubator' with a Notre-Dame restored thanks to the Olympic Games."

According to a poll, 71% of Parisians would support such a project, motivated by the improvement of air quality and noise reduction. The city hall argues in the press: "This is a vote that is not limited to ecology; it is also a question of lifestyle."

The opposition is cautious. Aurélien Veron, the lead candidate in the 2020 municipal elections in Paris Centre under the Changer Paris (Rachida Dati) label, "defends consultations, gardens, and streets for movement." But he emphasizes: "The vote on Sunday, March 23 will not be a consultation, will not concern gardens, but rather the closure of 500 streets to traffic and 10 parking spaces." This, he says, is the real issue. "However," he adds, "a real consultation requires precise information (list of streets, specific developments, impact study), time for debate, and transparency. Even the Neighborhood Councils have criticized the demagogy of this €000 million communication plan." And the Paris councilor concludes: "Once again, the city is taking Parisians for... idiots."

For his part, the mayor of Paris-Centre, Ariel Weil, wants to "put an end to a sad and deserted administrative city. With fewer cars, more real residents and families" (Le Parisien).

The vote includes a first: young people aged 16 to 18 will be able to participate, marking a new stage in civic engagement, provided they register before February 26, 2025. Some see it as a boost for local democracy, while others suspect a political maneuver: this population does not drive.

If the "for" vote wins, a street identification project involving Parisians will be launched at the arrondissement level starting in April, before feasibility studies are carried out. It is estimated that three years will be needed to implement all the work, the schedule of which will be defined in 2025. Since 2020, more than 10 outdoor parking spaces have been removed, and 000 streets have been planted.

The vote is also a political test for Anne Hidalgo. With one year to go until the 2026 municipal elections, the mayor of Paris has a lot at stake. If the "yes" vote wins, she will be able to boast popular support to accelerate her ecological transformation of the city.

Where to vote?

• QJ – Youth District : 4 place du Louvre – 75 001
• Parisian Space of Solidarity : 8 rue de la Banque – 75 002
• Paris Center Town Hall : 2 rue Eugène Spuller – 75 003
• Climate Academy : 2 place Baudoyer – 75 004