The Parisian terraces have been coming back to life since Tuesday. Better, they reinvent themselves. It is now not uncommon to see tables, chairs, directly placed on the road, in a small square or on spaces usually reserved for parking vehicles. As at Athena, in the 2nd arrondissement. “For a small neighborhood bar like us, it's good to have been able to create a terrace on parking spaces. It allows us to work and people to meet, ”says Benjamin, bartender. And for good reason. In Paris and its region, the area most affected by coronavirus, only the terraces can currently accommodate customers. But these terraces are now larger or even new.
While Parisians discovered in recent weeks, life on the asphalt and aperitif on the sidewalk, the mayor of Paris has authorized since June 2, the restaurants, bars and cafes of the capital to expand their terrace for free and occupy the public space, sometimes even creating their own outside area, when the establishment did not initially have one. This scheme, which runs until September 30, is currently meeting with some success. The town hall of Paris indicates to 20 Minutes having received more than 2,500 declarations of extension of terraces from the establishment which must in return put up on their storefront, a charter to be respected. If for the moment, only the first day was marked by mild weather, what initial assessment of the operation, when some elected officials fear “tensions” with the residents?
"For the moment, we have very enthusiastic feedback"
Earlier this week, the LR candidate for mayor of Paris, Rachida Dati, predicted "tensions" with residents and pedestrians, due to this extension of the terraces of bars and restaurants. "We are going to deconfigure the terraces but there was no anticipation (...) It was not concerted with the cafetiers, and even less with the residents", explained on Europe 1 the current mayor of the 7th arrondissement, criticizing outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo. Contacted by 20 Minutes , Olivia Polski, assistant to the mayor of Paris in charge of Trade and Handicrafts, wants to be reassuring.
“For the moment, we have very enthusiastic feedback. Parisians are happy to have found their terraces, their restaurants. Afterwards, we had some feedback concerning traders who went beyond what they should have done. But compared to the overall number of terraces in Paris, it is tiny. We are still in the first week, we are testing, we are rode, ”she said. And to specify: “Where there are problems, the idea is to set up a mediation work with the borough mayors to find solutions. Afterwards, if problems persist, there will be verbalizations or even withdrawals of these extensions ”. Note that these extensions are currently allowed to open only from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. And city officials ensure compliance with the rules and instructions, and in particular check whether the tables are sufficiently spaced and whether the arrangement allows pedestrians to cross the sidewalk.
"Today, it's safe-who-can"
Of the 18,500 establishments (cafes, bars, restaurants) in Paris, 40% have not reopened, according to the GNI-Synhorcat, the union of hoteliers and restaurants, requested by 20 Minutes . “Today, it's safe-who-can. And those who have reopened know that they are currently working at a loss, ”reacts Marcel Benezet, president of the cafes, bars and breweries branch of the GNI-Synhorcat. For him, the town hall system is good but not sufficient. “The town hall system will give a breath of fresh air for some. We may be reviving the economy of our Parisian bistros. But I fear problems. Some have not yet reopened because the economic model does not hold and even the terrace would not be enough ”. In the long term, according to him "30% of small establishments risk being trapped".
In addition, to allow more extensions and creations of terraces and save jobs, certain arteries of the capital could also be pedestrianized soon. For the moment, a list of zones was revealed after a work of recognition of the services of the city, but "by way of example", one indicates with the town hall. Merchants and borough mayors are invited to make themselves known. For the moment, no street has really become pedestrian, but nearly 40 requests for pedestrianization of arteries have been made by groups of restaurateurs. "The subject of pedestrian streets will take a little more time, because we have to close streets, so it requires work with the mayors of boroughs and restaurateurs", specifies Olivia Polski.
Finally, can we imagine its enlarged terraces, ephemera and pedestrian areas to fit into the future? "It would be my dream," replies Marcel Benezet. "In any case, it will be an opportunity to reflect, but it will be necessary to see with the associations of residents," he adds. "It can be complicated but we would obviously like to keep our new terrace," replies him, Benjamin, the waiter at the Athena. Olivia Polski does not come forward. “Restaurateurs tell me that they need to reinvent themselves. After, it's complicated to imagine the rest. And for the moment, they are also very subject to the vagaries of the weather. We will take stock at the end at the end of this period to see how well it has worked. ”
Society
Deconfinement in Paris: Anne Hidalgo announces the free extension of the terraces of bars and restaurants
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- Paris
- Rachida Dati
- Anne Hidalgo
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Trade