Montsouris: The Last Farm In Paris
In Montsouris, there used to be the last farm in Paris. Barely 2 miles south of Notre Dame. Here is what happened 10 years ago and what has become of it.
Montsouris: The Last Farm In Paris
In Paris, next to where we live in Denfert Rochereau, over the catacombs, there used to be a “farm”. Don’t misunderstand me, it wasn’t a farm with meadows and fields all around, more like a milk shop with cows in the back yard; I can imagine, the smell and the filth, this must have been something.
For 50 years or so, the building was closed and a battle took place. It opposed those who wanted to restore it as is and those who want to build an 8-storey block of flats with an underground car-park. As usual in that kind of situation, none of the 2 sides are right or wrong. It’s just that they were firmly opposed to one another and – in a very Gallic way – none of the two sides will budge from their position.
The medieval quarry underneath
Opponents contend that the medieval quarry underneath is a landmark but it’s also a very dangerous place which led to the destruction of many buildings in the very street where these people are standing and the death of quite a few people in one of the most deadly quarry collapses at the end of the nineteenth century.
Things aren’t black or white, they are black and white at the same time. The result of this wanton feud was that for many years we didn’t get a farm, nor a new building, nor a new cultural centre as was once proposed. We had nothing but a derelict building which could have collapsed.
The June 2013 gathering
10 years fast forward
10 years later, things have moved on.
A Real Estate development firm named Soferim finally went on with the project and it’s not that offensive. It’s overly priced, ridiculously and pompously named “Spring Garden” but it’s ten times better than the derelict building that was there before.
They even designed a logo for it. Soferim renovated the last Paris farm. The not for profit organisation that was dead against it before now seems to be more positive. The Town Hall purchased the quarry, and it vowed to protect it. Soferim is also in the process of rehabilitating a cute nineteenth century villa.
All is well that ends well.
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