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Montparnasse Tower: €800 Million Transformation Project Abandoned

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The Editor

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More than two years ago, a major renovation project for the Montparnasse Tower was announced. And while Paris's tallest building (within city limits) closed its doors on March 31st in preparation for work that was supposed to begin in September, those plans have now been officially abandoned.

It was supposed to be the renovation of the decade. Yet that won't be happening, at least not for now. This Wednesday, September 23rd, with less than two months before the building permit expires, the co-owners of Montparnasse Tower held another vote, flatly refusing to begin the work. Yet another twist that puts an end to this monumental project worth no less than 800 million euros.


A well-deserved rebirth

It may not be as beautiful a building as Notre-Dame, nor as iconic as the Eiffel Tower, nor as its breathtaking observatory. However, after more than 50 years in operation, it was high time to give it a fresh start. On the agenda: replacing dark windows with brighter glass panes, doubling visitor capacity, or even creating a huge garden at the top, all while taking into account ecological concerns. Yet, the news has just come in, and none of this will actually come to pass.


A story… infernal!

This Wednesday, September 23rd, the various co-owners of the tower were supposed to meet to discuss the first phase of the work, which notably included the end of asbestos removal from the building, as well as the removal of part of the facade. To say that the outcome of the vote was highly anticipated would be an understatement, and the result is decisive, with 72% of them opposed to the start of construction. According to the statement released following the meeting (by the co-owners in favor of the work, it should be noted), the reasons for this refusal would be purely financial. Everyone can rest assured, however, the project, which aims to redefine the image of this neighborhood, is not dead, and some

discussions must begin in the coming months to establish a new action plan better able to meet everyone's needs. A story to follow, then…