Full Breakdown
Tour Montparnasse renovation stalled as co-owners reject plan
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A vote by the tower’s private co-owners this week halted the first phase of a long-planned overhaul of the 210-metre Tour Montparnasse. More than three-quarters of the owners—investment funds and insurers—rejected the renovation, which would have begun with asbestos removal, interior stripping and partial façade replacement. The decision comes just before the building permit for the project expires at the end of November, raising the prospect that the empty skyscraper will remain closed and visibly deteriorating.
Background & Context
Opened in 1973, the 59-storey tower is the tallest structure in inner-city Paris and has long been criticised for its stark appearance, often described as a “carbuncle” on the skyline. For over a decade, developers have drafted plans to give the monolith a new glass skin, add vegetation, a garden terrace on the 16th floor and an agricultural greenhouse at the top, as well as a hotel, office and leisure spaces. The renovation budget, initially lower, has more than doubled to an estimated €800 million, partly due to the costly asbestos removal operation.
Official Statements & Responses
Philippe Goujon, mayor of Paris’s 15th arrondissement, told AFP that abandoning a decade-long project would be unacceptable and warned against the tower falling into neglect. A group of four co-owners, including telecom entrepreneur Xavier Niel, issued a joint statement urging all owners, financial partners and public authorities to meet promptly to explore solutions for transforming the tower. The office of Paris’s Socialist mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, called for an alternative proposal to prevent the site from stagnating. Separately, architect Renzo Piano has been commissioned to redesign the shopping centre beneath the tower and surrounding buildings, aiming to create greener pedestrian spaces.
Criticism & Opposition
Left-leaning councillors have argued that the “obsolete” tower should be demolished and replaced with a park that could provide a cooling effect during summer heatwaves. Their criticism reflects broader public dissatisfaction with the building’s aesthetic and functional legacy.
What’s Next
Co-owners who still support renovation are considering a scaled-down version of the project and have indicated a willingness to reconvene soon. If a new agreement is not reached before the permit expires, the tower could remain vacant, potentially jeopardising the adjacent redevelopment led by Piano. Stakeholders are therefore under pressure to find a compromise before the deadline.