Two first letters, for example. In the arm wrestling initiated since 2021 between the City of Paris and the actors of the « quick commerce » – those companies that promise grocery delivery ” in a few minutes “ but whose elected officials denounce the nuisances, and the risk they pose to the future of city centers – the sending, Wednesday, September 28, of two letters accompanied by financial penalties to the company Flink opens a new chapter , more contentious and legal, this time around.
For two of its Parisian addresses, one located in 9e arrondissement, the second in the 17e district, the German specialist in express delivery is now asked to pay a fine of 200 euros per day to the City until it has regularized its situation. He is asked to reconfigure into a business premises transformed, without authorization, into a mini-warehouse – commonly called « dark stores » –, and from where deliverers set off to deliver a packet of crisps or a tube of toothpaste as quickly as possible to the city-dweller in a hurry. Two other similar letters left this week.
François d’Hautefort, the general manager of Flink in France, explains that he does not have, “at this stage, sufficient elements to (decide)” on these acts, but said to hope “to have the opportunity to take part in future exchanges with the public authorities, and thus contribute to the construction of a legal framework (…) conducive to development” of its activity. For his part, Emmanuel Grégoire, the first deputy mayor of Paris, announces a salvo of around fifty other identical letters ready to leave. The amount of the fine, capped at 500 euros per day, is fixed according to the surface and limited to 25,000 euros per location.
The executive confirms the status of “warehouses”
By making the existence of these administrative decrees public, the Parisian municipality affirms that it does not want to bail out the coffers of the capital, but reaffirms its determination not to be overwhelmed by this new activity, as it may have been in the past. after the appearance of Airbnb tourist accommodation or the proliferation of electric scooters. the quick commercecontravening its vision of a lively city, with social ties, and the efforts made by the public authorities to revitalize urban centers, it had to be stemmed, explains Emmanuel Grégoire.
The first deputy first attempted mediation, warning those concerned that their premises – warehouses, with regard to the capital’s town planning rules – do not respect the texts, in particular because they are installed at the foot of the building. building, or in spaces intended for commerce. A handful of them got the message and closed up shop. But most replied to the City that it was not up to them to move, but rather to the legislation to adapt to their model; the state was going to change all that, they explained. Understanding that they would not give in, the City first sent a series of files to justice. And, at the same time, fearing excessive legal delays, it relied on a 2019 law to try to intervene with its own legal tools.
You have 16.43% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.