A nonprofit trade group representing stakeholders along one of the France's best-known thoroughfares has submitted to the City of Paris its study on "re-enchanting" the Champs-Élysées, in order to bring the landmark avenue up to date.
The report commissioned by the Comité des Champs-Élysées comprises no fewer than 150 proposals, over 400 maps and 1,800 pages. It mobilized 183 experts and 30 design offices. The aim? To make the avenue an attractive place to stroll once again, "to reinvent a form of urban planning, to make the area more desirable, and to make it a sustainable and inclusive place," said Philippe Chiambaretta, architect and founder of the PCA-STREAM agency, which coordinated and steered the study.
"In the sun, in the rain, at noon or at midnight, there's everything you want on the Champs-Élysées," sang American–French singer-songwriter and actor Joe Dassin in 1969. Since then, the image of the Champs-Élysées has become blurred, with the world's longest avenue shunned by many Parisians.
"Today, only two Parisians out of every 100 stroll along it," said Marc-Antoine Jamet, president of the Comité Champs-Élysées.
The committee, whose origins date to 1916, said it submitted the study in order to reenchant a place that "was no longer loved, no longer lovable, deserted by Parisians and feared by foreigners".
Here are some of the group's ideas:
Enhancing Pedestrian Access
Pedestrian space is one of the study's key recommendations, with a 13% increase in the space reserved for pedestrians, a reduction in the number of lanes reserved for traffic from six to four, and a doubling of the width of cycle paths. A service lane would be added for delivery vans and cab and bus drop-offs. The installation of eight "plant lounges" every 200 meters along the upper avenue, each with a surface area of 150 square meters would provide seating, shade in summer and a fountain. The lounges would also create islands of coolness and calm for visitors, particularly children and the elderly.
Addressing Climate Change
The other major thrust of this study is to adapt the avenue to climate change and to accommodate biodiversity. A package of proposed measures aims to reduce the carbon footprint by 33% over 50 years, and to lower the average temperature by 1 to 7°C, turning the avenue into a "climate refuge" in the event of a heatwave.
To achieve this, the study proposes a 120% increase in permeable soil surfaces, the planting of 160 additional trees and the creation of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) of meadows and flowerbeds. "The idea is to increase the canopy and thus the islands of coolness," argues the architect. In addition, the 20 hectares (49.4 acres) of gardens near La Concorde, currently neglected, are to be turned back into a fully-fledged urban park, with play areas for children, water features and fountains, as well as sports areas and courses.
Among other recommendations, the study recommends the creation of a unified range of street furniture for the entire avenue, to create harmony. It would also include safety barriers, new lighting, multilingual signage, multi-purpose bollards and kiosks.
Creating a 'Faire Quartier'
The strategy recommended by this study is to "create a neighborhood."
"We need to stop talking about avenues, and start talking about neighborhoods," insists Jamet, the committee's president. This will involve programming coordinated by a "cultural and artistic manager," as well as the establishment of a twice-weekly market.
The serenity of the promenade would also depend on the attention paid to the safety of its users. A permanent health and safety watch would be installed, and the number of pedestrian and equestrian patrols would be increased.
Shared Vision
Emmanuel Grégoire, first deputy mayor of Paris, said the city "shares the main thrusts of this study and its ambition to bring Parisians back."
He added: "The mayor will provide documented feedback on these very many inspiring proposals. We will be holding discussions with all the partners, and in particular with the Préfecture de Police, to present the major decisions by the second half of 2024."
Finally, one last figure: €250 million. This is the estimated cost of "re-enchanting" the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
"It seems to us that these are not costs, but investments. The additional tax revenues (from owners, retailers and users) are intended to finance all or part of the investment," said Jamet, president of the Comité Champs-Élysées.