The eviction of the Clap pétanque club highlights the ongoing tension between community spaces and commercial developments in urban areas.
Local residents and supporters of the club express significant concern over the loss of historic social spaces in favor of luxury projects.
The Clap pétanque club is likely to continue legal battles against the eviction and the hotel development in an attempt to reclaim their space.
Increased public outcry and support for community spaces may lead to broader discussions about urban planning and community rights in Paris.
Eviction of Montmartre Pétanque Club Sparks Outrage
The historic Montmartre Pétanque Club, known as Clap, faced eviction on October 21, 2024, as police intervened to clear the bowling alley that has been a community fixture for over 50 years. The operation, confirmed by Paris City Hall, targeted approximately 20 members who had been occupying the site as a protest against a court ruling that deemed their presence illegal. The eviction follows a decision by the Council of State, which ordered the club to vacate the premises to make way for a luxury hotel development.
Members of the club, who have been protesting their forced removal since early morning, expressed their dismay at the police presence and the destruction of their facilities. Eyewitness accounts described CRS officers forcefully removing demonstrators who lay down in front of a moving truck carrying their belongings. This operation, which began at 7:30 a.m., included the demolition of the clubhouse, a structure listed since 1991, raising concerns about the legality of the actions taken by the police and the city.
The club’s president, Nicolas Jammes, announced plans to file a complaint regarding the eviction, stating, "What is shocking is to see the public forces working for a private operator by destroying a listed site." The local residents and supporters, including MP Aymeric Caron and actor Fabrice Luchini, have rallied around the club, criticizing the city’s decision to prioritize a luxury tourism project over a community space that has served diverse social backgrounds for decades.
