Emmanuel Grégoire, new mayor of Paris, unveiled his measures for developing public space, promising to act on “1,000 black spots” in the capital and to guarantee a “right to beauty” in “all neighborhoods”.
Publi-Information 
Faced with the growing dissatisfaction of residents with the state of public spaces, Emmanuel Grégoire wants to leave his mark on Paris. Anne Hidalgo’s successor promises a cleaner, more pleasant and aesthetic city, while continuing the major transformations initiated in recent years.
Between the fight against “black spots”, accelerated pedestrianization and defense of Parisian heritage, the new mayor displays a clear ambition: to reconcile residents with their living environment.
Cleanliness, sidewalks, nuisances: Grégoire wants to tackle the “black spots” of Paris
“I know the dissatisfaction of many Parisians with the quality of public space“, explains in a newspaper interview Le Figaro THE successor and former first deputy of Anne Hidalgowho wishes “continue the transformations underway“by the former councilor but in”improving the general living environment“All while reinforcing.”considerably the role of district mayors in local planning policies“, specifies Emmanuel Grégoire who promised to be a mayor “hyper proximity“.
The man who was Anne Hidalgo’s first deputy for a long time, here in the photo, says he wants to continue the major urban changes initiated in recent years, but with increased attention paid to the daily comfort of residents. Emmanuel Grégoire’s credo? Hyper proximity! To do this, he intends to give more power to district mayors in local planning policies. © Jean-Baptiste Gurliat / City of Paris
The mayor also announces an offensive on everyday irritants: cleanliness, condition of sidewalks, construction site management, invasive terraces and incivility will be among the immediate priorities of his mandate.
Starting next week, during his first ordinary Paris Councilhe will present a vast action plan targeting “1,000 blackheads“identified in the capital. Among the targeted areas are:
– the surroundings of stations;
– Areas with very high tourist numbers – such as the Champ-de-Mars;
– But also popular neighborhoods such as Barbès or Château-Rouge.
THE “right to beauty”
Beyond daily management, Emmanuel Grégoire also wants to reaffirm an aesthetic ambition for the capital. The councilor thus announces a plan dedicated to “right to beauty“intended to protect and enhance the visual identity of Paris. Facades, floors, historic bridges – the Pont des Arts is notably cited among the emblematic sites concerned –, old street furniture: everything that contributes to Parisian charm must, according to him, be the subject of increased attention.
Consolidation work is currently underway on the Pont des Arts until June 11, 2026 in order to reinforce the deck fixings. The iconic pedestrian bridge, however, remains accessible throughout the duration of the construction site, with pedestrian traffic maintained – bicycles remain prohibited. This intervention is a continuation of the major renovation carried out in 2023 on this emblematic monument linking the Louvre to the Institut de France. The wooden floor, significantly damaged by time and the massive use of the site, was then replaced by badi – a particularly resistant exotic African wood, capable of lasting nearly thirty years. The benches and candelabra had also been restored, while a lighting upgrade is due to be finalized soon. Inaugurated in its current version in 1984, the Pont des Arts has become one of the most photographed symbols of Paris thanks to its view of the Seine, its appearance in several cult films and its image associated with Parisian romanticism. The bridge had already undergone a major transformation in 2015 with the replacement of its metal grills with glass panels in order to put an end to the famous “love padlocks”, the weight of which had weakened the structure with nearly 45 tonnes of accumulated overload. © Henri Garat / City of Paris
Emmanuel Grégoire also insists on the preservation of “ordinary assets“, these everyday elements that shape the soul of Parisian neighborhoods. A general delegate for design and aesthetics will be responsible for piloting this new policy.
Pedestrianization, shade and transport
The mayor also wants to accelerate the transformation of mobility in the capital. He promises the creation of 80 new “pedestrian hearts” and wishes to guarantee, wherever possible, at least one shaded sidewalk on each street. There pedestrianization of the banks of the Seine must also take a new step with the objective of creating a continuous walk of 25 kilometers along the river.
However, Emmanuel Grégoire refuses to position himself in an anti-car logic. He says he wants to develop more specialized parking spaces for professionals who depend on their vehicles on a daily basis. On the public transport side, he announced the deployment of 15 express bus lines as well as the return of a secure bus lane on rue de Rivoli.
Finally, on the sensitive front of extracurriculars, which he describes as “top priority“At the start of his mandate, the mayor must go to the Saint-Dominique school, in the 7th arrondissement, after revelations of sexual violence against minors.
Finally, faced with criticism of the absence of a deputy specifically dedicated to heritage in his executive, Emmanuel Grégoire brushes aside the controversy. He recalls having appointed a delegated heritage advisor and affirms that he wants to get personally involved in these subjects.
