Urban decay, grim and projects in northern Paris

[destroycreate]

Contrary to what so many think, France can be so depressing. All that 60's concrete of a failed era. Ugh, what a miserable looking area!

[Bronxwood]

Some of these pictures look straight out of 1980's New York. The level of decay in some of those buildings seems unreal for a world class city nowadays. You'd be hard pressed to find this level of decay even in the Bronx today. The streets are also devoid of life, or did you purposely avoid taking people shots? Very interesting area, feel free to post more.

[Nineties Flava]

Definitely a different portrait of Paris than I'm used to seeing.

[Le Charbonneur]

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[cjbs1]

Très intéressant, mets en plus si possible.

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[Le Charbonneur]

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[mousquet]

Originally Posted by Le Charbonneur

i think it's hard in France to take pics of people in general and for sure in this kind of area....Thugs or drug dealers don't like to be taken in pics everywhere in the world but normal people too that's perhaps the difference with the U.S, it's considered like an agression for many of them, an intrusion in their private life, people can be very susceptible... and you sure to have comments or have to fight or run lol , it's for that you'll rarely make shots in the late afternoon especilally in the PJ's......

It might be like that too often, which is a sign of the tense atmosphere and the severe distrust in this society, but I guess most don't mind about photographers, though. Of course, the streets are the public space that belongs to anyone. Anybody has a total right to take whatever they want in picture in the streets and if anyone shows up and complains about that, annoying you, they assholes are just wrong.

People won't get in any trouble from taking pictures within the touristy areas of central Paris that are pretty safe anyway. It's risky mainly in the poorer suburbs where lots of guys tend to be rude to strangers.

I agree that you've been pretty brave to venture in these areas to shoot them, however. Many wouldn't dare that yet.

[Minato Ku]

Originally Posted by Le Charbonneur

For Pantin/4 chemins as i used to work there in the late 90's early 00's i have see no improvement except a few construction there and there....I know there's a massive renovation plan programmed for the whole area but it is still very very run down......
Look at these buildings there are exactly in the same state as 10 years ago....

I didn't say that those areas were great and safe, I said that it was not comparable with the South Bronx 1970's-1980's.

Redevelopment take time but I don't think that those area will become wealthy district.
This wouldn't be good, it would push the poor even futher.

Works in Dock de Saint Ouen and near the canal in Pantin just began.
4 Chemin areas is run down but it is busy area, it doesn't look scary during the day.

[jcchii]

very interesting

the light is still beautiful

[c@taract_soulj@h]

I had to remind myself I was looking at Paris, and not Detroit (the Paris of the midwest) ha!

[Le Charbonneur]

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[Le Charbonneur]

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[Kingofthehill]

i'd love to explore that whole chappelle/barbes area. i briefly passed through it, but my gf was not especially fond of doing any real exploration. next time. pity those buildings were razed instead of being renovated! that's something i'd expect from bucarest, or buenos aires, but not paris!

[RudyJK]

I keep expecting to see zombies wandering free in these pictures.

[Rail Claimore]

The pictures you see in most news stories of banlieues don't show stuff like this. I've heard that France is the only country in Europe that has ghettos comparable to what you find in many American cities, with housing projects and the look of abandonment. Not sure if it's the only country, but after seeing your photos, these are definitely comparable.

[Le Charbonneur]

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[Le Charbonneur]

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[lio45]

Originally Posted by Le Charbonneur

Rue Du Landy par Le Charbonneur, sur Flickr

"Nos quartiers se rénovent pour :"
...mais la résolution est trop basse pour qu'on puisse lire la suite.

Do you think you could post a higher res image for that one? I'm curious to see that sign. Seems really wishful thinking to me... kinda like the "we're fine" Cuban signs.

[Cro Burnham]

Been to Paris many times but never saw anything like that. I had no idea France had such ghettos.

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by Le Charbonneur

I just wanted to show the anti postcard Paris......
It will change of pics of macarons Ladurée, café de flore and the locks at "pont des arts"
I don't consider any of the hoods i took in pics as ghettos, some are just gritty, run down, others can be a bit rough to very rough, depends.....

These are wonderful: I couldn't care less about touristy parts of major cities I visit. To me, the real modern France (and any other country) is out in the suburbs, both rich and poor. Thank you for shedding light on this with these pictures.