Key facts
- The renovation of the Tour Montparnasse in Paris has been halted.
- Disagreements among private co-owners over plans and pricing led to the halt.
- Over three-quarters of co-owners voted against the project.
- The building permit expires at the end of November.
- The project's estimated cost had doubled to €800m.
- Parts of the building have been emptied and closed for renovation.
The long-awaited renovation of the Tour Montparnasse, a skyscraper in Paris known for its controversial design, has been halted due to disagreements among its numerous private co-owners. A final vote this week saw more than three-quarters of the co-owners reject the project, which had an estimated cost of €800 million (£688 million) after doubling from initial projections. The building permit for the renovation is set to expire at the end of November, raising concerns that the tower, which has been emptied and closed, will remain deserted. The renovation plans included a new glass exterior, added vegetation, a garden terrace, and a hotel, alongside asbestos removal and interior stripping. Some co-owners hope a scaled-down project might still be agreed upon. Philippe Goujon, the mayor of the district where the tower is located, expressed his dismay, stating he could not accept the project being abandoned or the landmark falling into neglect. Xavier Niel, a co-owner, called for a meeting of all stakeholders to find solutions. Meanwhile, architect Renzo Piano is proceeding with a separate project to overhaul the shopping center beneath the tower and surrounding areas, and local officials are keen to avoid delays to that initiative.