August 31s, 2025 - Greater Paris: How the Suburbs Are Redefining the City

For decades, Paris was defined by the 21-mile beltway known as the Périphérique. Inside, the city inspired romance and culture, immortalized in Humphrey Bogart’s famous line: “We’ll always have Paris.” Outside, in the banlieue, lay the suburbs, often stigmatized for crime and dilapidated housing, particularly in Seine-Saint-Denis, or postal code 93.

That image is changing. Greater Paris has been born, stretching beyond the Périphérique and reconnecting the city with its suburbs. Areas once overlooked, like Pantin and Romainville, are now thriving, hip neighborhoods. Canals, once industrial and neglected, have become leisure spaces with biking trails, bars, and restaurants, attracting locals and tourists alike.

Rémi Babinet, head of the BETC advertising agency, says, “In Pantin, I always feel I’m in the future, and in central Paris, I’m stuck in the past.” His offices overlook the Ourcq Canal, once filled with industrial waste and stolen cars, now transformed into green, vibrant spaces where people fish and socialize.

The Greater Paris Metropolis, created nearly a decade ago, combines Paris with 130 surrounding districts, tripling its population and aiming to break ethnic and economic barriers. The Grand Paris Express, a $46.7 billion rail project, now links the city with the suburbs, spurring development, especially in Seine-Saint-Denis, and shifting the city’s center of gravity outward.

Art and culture have followed. Pantin hosts galleries like Thaddaeus Ropac’s, and the Paris Philharmonic opened a decade ago along the Ourcq. These spaces draw diverse crowds and show that creativity is moving beyond central Paris. New perspectives, like panoramic views from the Philharmonic’s rooftop, highlight the city’s changing landscape.

Social diversity remains a focus. Subsidized housing makes up a significant portion of Pantin, ensuring a mix of incomes. Local youth, such as Ayoud Houzali and Aymane Laraqui, say their experiences show an updated, inclusive Seine-Saint-Denis. Mayor Bertrand Kern emphasizes that the goal is to avoid creating a ghetto of the wealthy while fostering community across income levels.

Gentrification brings both opportunity and challenge. While Pantin attracts major brands like Hermès and Chanel and new cultural projects like Les Grandes-Serres, longtime residents adapt to rising costs. Yet the energy, innovation, and mix of people make Greater Paris a city that is no longer defined by the Périphérique but by connection, diversity, and growth.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Simpatico (adj, sim-PAH-tih-koh) - Simpatico typically describes two or more people or things with shared qualities, interests, etc. It can also describe someone who is agreeable or likeable.

Example: Even though they weren’t always simpatico with regard to the direction of their company, the pair managed to be successful partners for more than 35 years.

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