property
Montmartre Residents Clash Over 12-Story Development Plan
A proposed 12-storey residential block on Rue Caulaincourt has split local views between housing supply needs and heritage protection.
How we reported this
The Paris planning commission will examine an application next month for a 12-storey apartment building at 48 Rue Caulaincourt, drawing formal objections from two neighbourhood groups over scale and traffic impacts.
The timing coincides with a sharp uptick in Montmartre property transactions after the 2025 easing of short-term rental caps, which lifted average resale prices to €9,800 per square metre in the first half of 2026 according to Chambre des Notaires records. City hall has flagged the site as suitable for 68 new units under the current PLU height rules, yet residents argue the massing would block sightlines from the lower slopes toward Sacré-Cœur.
Developer position and city data
The promoter, listed as a subsidiary of the Vinci Immobilier group, states the scheme includes 22 social-rental flats and ground-floor retail space to meet targets set in the 2024-2030 logement strategy. Vinci submitted traffic modelling showing a net daily vehicle increase of 48 cars, below the threshold that would trigger a full environmental impact study. The firm also cites a 19 percent rise in Montmartre rental listings since January, arguing new stock would ease pressure on older stock near Place du Tertre.
Opponents counter that the height exceeds the prevailing four-to-six storey cornice line along Rue Caulaincourt and would generate additional delivery traffic at the narrow junction with Rue des Abbesses. The Montmartre Heritage Defence collective submitted a petition with 1,872 signatures collected at the Marché Saint-Pierre and outside the Lamarck-Caulaincourt métro entrance. They reference a 2023 city-commissioned study that recorded 14 percent higher particulate levels on streets narrower than 12 metres when new towers were added nearby in the 18th arrondissement.
Next steps for residents
A public hearing is scheduled for 22 July at the mairie of the 18th arrondissement. Written submissions close on 15 July and can be lodged via the Paris open-data portal or in person at the urbanisme counter on Rue Ordener. Anyone with an address in the 18th can register to speak; the commission’s decision is expected within six weeks of the hearing.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.