Le Plessis-Robinson, an impoverished suburb of Paris, has over the last three decades undergone a remarkable transformation. Today it stands as a thriving and vibrant community that boasts a rich quality of life and a unique town identity. This renaissance was driven by the visionary leadership of former mayor Philippe Pemezec, who served from 1989 to 2018.
Pemezec favored an approach to urban redevelopment known as New Urbanism, which emphasizes the creation of walkable, mixed-use communities that foster a sense of place and belonging. But urban renewal initiatives like these that fall under the New Urbanism label are not without controversy.
Le Plessis-Robinson and gentrification
The issue of gentrification is chief among these concerns. The term refers to the socio-economic changes that can occur when fresh investment moves into a neglected urban area.
Depending on how urban renewal projects are handled, they can lead to the displacement of the original, often lower-income, residents who can no longer afford to live in the area due to rising property values, rents, and costs of living.
Given Le Plessis-Robinson’s high percentage of low-income residents, many of whom lived in its public housing, Pemezec’s plans had to account for such a possibility. As part of his master plan for the resurrection of Le Plessis-Robinson, he included an initiative to counter the possibility that some of the town’s residents could be displaced.
That creative initiative involved giving the residents of the area’s social housing opportunities to buy their homes at favorable terms and prices. It’s important to note that most residents accepted these offers. As a result, home ownership in the town rose.
An overflow of urban problems
Going into the ambitious project, Pemezec faced multiple challenges. In the late 1980s, Le Plessis-Robinson suffered from an overflow of urban problems. When Pemezec became mayor, he inherited a list of seemingly intractable issues:
- Le Plessis-Robinson was dominated by poorly maintained, ugly public housing. Many buildings and public spaces were in disrepair, with graffiti, litter, and vandalism visible throughout the town. These buildings were not only visually unappealing but also suffered from structural issues and lacked basic amenities.
- The town had a reputation for being unsafe, with high rates of drug-related crimes, theft, and violence. It also faced challenges related to unemployment and racial tensions. Social unrest sometimes resulted in public demonstrations and clashes with law enforcement.
- Businesses were struggling. The local economy was stagnant, with few job opportunities for residents, especially the area’s youth.
- The town’s public transportation system was unreliable. Residents found it difficult to commute to work or access essential services.
As mentioned, Pemezec favored a New Urbanism approach to revitalizing Le Plessis-Robinson. New Urbanism is a planning and development approach based on how cities and towns were built for the last several centuries: walkable blocks and streets, housing and nearby shopping, and accessible public spaces.
Behind those physical features lies a more abstract but critical element of New Urbanism: the concept of giving a distinct and aesthetically pleasing identity to an urban area, whether a town, city, or particular area of a metropolis.
Steps to Le Plessis-Robinson’s renaissance
The transformation of Le Plessis-Robinson began in earnest in the early 1990s. Phillippe Pemezec’s vision was to revitalize the suburb by addressing both its physical and social issues. To assist with the project, he brought architects Xavier Bohl and Francois Spoerry on board.
The renaissance involved several key projects and strategies:
- One of the first steps was the demolition of some of the most dilapidated housing and the construction of new, more attractive residential areas. The intent of these projects was to mix public and private housing.
- Beautifying the area was key as well. Parks and public buildings were renovated. This not only improved the quality of life for the town’s residents but also helped to attract new residents and investors.
- Pemezec focused hard on attracting businesses and promoting entrepreneurship. This helped to create jobs and reduce unemployment.
- To tackle social issues, the mayor’s office worked to strengthen community services, including education, sports, and cultural programs. Efforts were also made to improve relations between residents and the police.
Challenges to Pemezec’s vision
Finding the necessary funding for the individual projects within the urban renewal effort was a major challenge. This required not only attracting local investment but also securing state and private financing.
Some residents initially resisted the changes. They feared displacement or were skeptical of the renovation projects’ benefits.
To make sure that the new developments respected the suburb’s historical and cultural heritage, Pemezec and the designers had to strike a delicate balance among the project’s various stakeholders, including the town’s residents.
The organizers also found that sustaining improvements in social cohesion and economic prosperity was a complex, ongoing challenge—one that continues to the present day.
But despite these obstacles, under Pemezec’s leadership Le Plessis-Robinson became a notable example of suburban renewal. The transformation was marked by improved urban aesthetics, reduced crime rates, and a revitalized community spirit. It showcased the potential for positive change in suburban areas facing decay and neglect.
In urban regeneration projects, the involvement of the locals is key to the acceptance of the changes, as well as their long-term success.
While specific records regarding the extent of resident involvement in Le Plessis-Robinson’s renovation are hard to come by, it’s safe to say that Pemezec gradually built local support for the project through tried-and-true community involvement strategies. These include:
- Public hearings and meetings with local residents
- Planning workshops that include residents’ participation
- Committees and/or advisory groups set up to gather residents’ input, research the available options, and offer recommendations
- Local entrepreneurship, job creation initiatives, and training programs designed to benefit residents through new opportunities generated by the redevelopment.
This community involvement played a major role in the success of the project.
Architectural design considerations
One of the most striking aspects of Le Plessis-Robinson’s transformation was the shift towards classical architecture, known as “architecture douce” (“soft architecture”), which became the dominant style in the town’s redesign.
The goal of this movement away from minimalist modernist architecture was to create a more welcoming, harmonious, and visually appealing environment. The incorporation of green spaces and pedestrian-friendly streets also contributed to the town’s renewed sense of identity and charm.
A key feature of the town’s revitalization is the Garden City of Le Plessis-Robinson, master-planned by Atelier Xavier Bohl. This area includes a winding river through the heart of the town, designed to create a genuine river ecosystem. This natural feature provides a tranquil environment for residents.
The town’s layout was designed with a clear city plan that distinguishes between main and secondary routes, akin to traditional towns.
Regarding housing, more than 30 percent of the tow’’s housing supply is social housing. As mentioned, there is a program in place to facilitate the purchase of apartments by social housing tenants.
A rejuvenation success story
Le Plessis-Robinson’s transformation has been a success, not just in terms of urban aesthetics but also in terms of social and economic rejuvenation.
The project’s success demonstrates how strategic planning and a commitment to community well-being can breathe new life into neglected areas. It’s a testament to the power of visionary leadership, thoughtful design, and an unwavering dedication to creating a vibrant, thriving community.
Residents of Le Plessis-Robinson now enjoy a higher quality of life, thanks to the improvements in their local environment. The town’s renewed sense of identity and attractiveness has fostered a sense of pride and belonging among its inhabitants.
Pre-renovation social issues
It’s important to note that all did not quickly become sunshine and roses in Le Plessis-Robinson.
Before its renovation, the town, like many suburban areas around major French cities, faced social challenges including high unemployment rates, cultural differences, and strained community relations. Those issues did not all disappear just because the town became more livable and pretty.
However, project leaders had the foresight to create a mix of low-income social housing and private housing. This helped better integrate different cultures and racial groups into the town fabric, which gave the suburb an improved community identity that residents could take pride in.
The project also generated new economic opportunities, including much-needed new local jobs.
Issues such as racial and cultural clashes and the integration of immigrant populations are not easily resolved through physical transformation alone. These require enlightened social policies, educational programs, and community engagement efforts. This is and will continue to be an ongoing challenge in Le Plessis-Robinson and other communities with similar problems.
However, the success of Le Plessis-Robinson’s resurrection as a beautiful and more prosperous town is worth lauding. It serves as a model for other communities seeking to improve the quality of life for their residents through innovative urban design and redevelopment strategies.
Lessons learned
Seven lessons can be taken from the transformation of Le Plessis-Robinson:
- Long-term vision is key.
- Smart policies such as public-private partnerships are necessary.
- Get the urban form right. The stakeholders of Le Plessis-Robinson created an attractive mix of dense urban fabric and plenty of green.
- Social (low-income) housing can be beautiful. Some of the costs of renovating the social housing were offset through the sale of upmarket homes. As noted, the social housing residents were given the opportunity to buy their homes at favorable terms and prices.
- Think beyond simple green spaces: Le Plessis-Robinson’s redevelopers created a true river ecosystem instead of just grass and trees with paths throughout.
- The walkable city wins. Shops and services are close enough so that people can walk or bike to fulfill their daily needs. This is known as the 15-minute city.
- Beauty does matter.
In short, the lessons learned from Le Plessis-Robinson’s transformation can inspire other neglected urban communities worldwide to pursue their own successful resurrection.
