European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 2, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Restoring the lost grandeur of the champs Elysee by Alan Riding new York time standing in iht1 Mick c Ile t and contemplating the As it sweeps past gardens .1 not to palaces inward the Art Detriomphe who would want to dispute its in being the worlds must elegant promenade1 standing Halfway up the , surrounded by paddlers fast fond , motorcycle gangs find panhandlers in the Garish lights of movie healers ind tar dealers who would be blamed Lor thinking this it Ould be the Gap Between it Avenue s Poelki Fame and its Grimy reality has Long worried parisians. Many now avoid the area choosing restaurants and movies in neighbourhoods less battered by cupidity. After More than Ajo years As .1 landmark the champs Elysee has become something of an embarrassment. Quot something has to be done to Slop this decadence Quot mayor Jacques c Hiram declared late Iasi year. Quot do we want our children to ask what was the champs Elysee like a Quot now in seems that the complaining and campaigning by champs overs May bring results with All the solemnity that officials Reserve for such occasions Chirac recently announced a new plan to save the Avenue from itself. Quot a similar plan was drawn up 10 years ago Quot said Pierre Yves i Igen. An Urban expert who Drew up the recommendations a but there was Strong opposition from commercial interests along the champs ulysees who managed to Block it. This time we have preparer things for a Start there has been More awareness of the need for action since the Battle of bouquets m 1988, when artists intellectuals and politicians were mobilised successfully to prevent Fouquet s. An Lurl , from being Evit Ted from is premises by kuwaiti properly developers. Alter Paris was spruced up for last years Hijji i t he by Ilins of the i Rench Rcv Tulion a Edh museums and monuments t leaned and Public gardens tidied the 1.2-mile chump ulysees seems nut of Harmony with .11 ily Many visitors agree has rarely looked belter. When first designed in 1 f>67, the champs i ulysees it Efy sinn Fields consisted literally of held an open area then on the outskirts of that extended the View West from the Fui Lenes see of the City s ancient palate and its formal gardens. A Century Laler in was i timed into a Carriage Way although it it Vvs still were pastured there. To the i9ih re Lury the Avenue truly tame into is own. I he arc Detriomphe was inaugurated in i it i and by the Iff Juk when Baron Georges Eugene t Lustmann was giving its present shape the chumps Fly sees had Bei ome .1 Center of Fine cafes ritzy hotels and luxurious Homes. But the champs Elysee that survived the nazi occupation and the economic difficulties of the postwar Era was unable to withstand the arrival of Prosperity in the l%0s. Ugly but functional buildings replaced less practical Lelh Century palaces elegant hotels and restaurants made Way Lor airline offices and Shupping malls curs pushed nut pedestrians. Today to Many parisians it is that dreadful import from America the fast food restaurant 1h.il Best symbolizes the Avenue s demise. But while the likes of Mcdonald s and Burger King Are there the huge Lap dealerships of France s own Peugeot Renault and citroen Are probably greater eyesores. The champs Elysee amp s real problem then is that in has become popular in the sense of unsophisticated. Today .1 three Safe to h Between the rond Point and it arc tie Trio Mph is it crowded with tourists. F Rem h jul of towners and less affluent parisians Commerce has simply adjusted to suit their tastes with hawkers and beggars in hot Pursuit. Hit plan then is to turn Luc k the clock k and re , the Avenue s inst style. A step w ill be the elimination 111 Icuss roads dial run alongside the Avenue and Are always clogged Vilh iconic Anil parked curs in heir , sidewalks will sir Eli h .1 Lull of feel Horn Avenue to buildings with a new Row of Trees added Tor Divide and de it oration restaurants that have Quot invaded the sidewalk will be pushed Hack and Newsstands information Booths Anil other stalls Are to be redesigned Lofils in w Ith the new elegant e. A move less emphasized by the authorities is that hawkers beggars and the like will be made to feel unwelcome by the police. The champs ulysees committee Whit h represents fid percent of businesses along the Avenue has swallowed hard Ami said it supports the plan stressing nonetheless that tars should not be expelled from act Ess roads until new underground parking lots Are built. Quot the change should come prognosis Ely Quot the group said in a statement. Quot to make in a nue promenade for pedestrians we must 1 make it a Nightmare for Drivers Quot added Jean Francois court the committee s Secretary general Quot we also should t go ton far in making the Chanis a sees Ion uniform. Things should be done with Good taste but we re not Hying to build a museum. We done to want decorative l Igen conceded that opposition would grow As the plan was carried nut but even that May be some Lime away. The City government must still find funds for the project a unofficial estimates put the t Ost at Al million a and court Bailies May follow.22 Hopes might in e
