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French Property Insider Don't miss a single issue of French Property Insider! "Whitelist" French Property Insider by adding "fpi@adrianleeds.com" to your address book. The ADRIAN LEEDS GROUP Apartments Welcome to your home in Paris. Home is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has the "seal of approval" from ALG, Paris Sharing and me, Adrian Leeds.
Featuring LE QUAI AUX FLEURS One of the best locations in Paris! This gorgeous two-bedroom haven is found on Ile de la Cité, one of the two islands that sit in the center of the Seine River in the heart of the city. It is just steps from the short pedestrian bridge leading to the other island, the Ile Saint-Louis, just behind Notre Dame, and the apartment offers a view of the towers of the world's most famous church. This exquisite apartment is on the third floor (European) of a well-maintained 18th-century building. Its modern elevator makes it simple to access and you’ll be glad that you did! Beautifully decorated and fully-equipped with every comfort you could desire, this is the ideal home away from home in Paris. Visit Adrian Leeds Group Apartments for more information or put in your request by emailing apartments@adrianleeds.com.FREE one-hour consultation! Guests of Parler Paris Apartments or Parler Nice Apartments who are considering the purchase of their own "pied-à-terre" for pleasure and profit, can take advantage of a free one-hour consultation while enjoying the apartment in the City of Light or on the Riviera. Simply complete the request form to book your consultation. Bonjour French Property Insider Subscriber, There is no shortage of the physically challenged in Nice where I have been for the last two weeks, and no one thinks anything of it. This may be because it's largely a retirement community and therefore a large portion of the population is elderly, but also because the terrain is flat and getting around is easier than in other places. As a result, the Niçois are very accustomed to people in wheelchairs or walking with canes and other devices that make getting around easier plus the city makes a big effort to treat them with equal respect. Most all the sidewalks have curb cuts and the wide tramway doors open at the same level to the street. There is plenty of room upon entry to accommodate wheel chairs as well as baby carriages and suitcases.
Yesterday I wrote about the beaches in Nice in "Parler Nice" and noted that the city offers two beaches for the physically challenged: Plages du Centenaire and de Carras. The beaches have adapted their facilities for easier access to the sea and at Carras is a special beach for the visually impaired. Centenaire is at the beginning of the Promenade des Anglais (number 1) just opposite the Jardin Albert 1er with a ramp down to the beach. It's also a non-smoking beach. Carras Beach is closer to the airport at number 385 Promenade des Anglais and is one of the longest beaches in Nice, extending for 350 meters. This beach is handicap accessible and has a first-aid station and lifeguard in the summer. My friend, Jody Dyer, has been in a "chaise roulante" most of his life and loves his stays in Nice. When he and his wife, Ella, sought an apartment with wheelchair access, they found it in the heart of the city in a building with a large elevator and the ability to add a small ramp into the apartment. He has a gadget called a "handcycle" that attaches to his wheelchair turning it into a kind of motorbike that he steers just like one...and I can tell you that he's tough to keep up with. Ella bikes alongside him on regular outings going long distances and I've joked that one of these days he's going to let me have a ride by sitting in his lap and letting him "put the peddle to the metal!" Of course, Jody will tell you that it's not a perfect world in Nice by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it's ranked 62nd in the national "barometer" and has a long way to go, but generally speaking, the Niçois are open-minded and forgiving to wheelchairs. When we wanted Jody to join us at a beachside restaurant, the management wholeheartedly agreed to carry him and his "bike" down the stairs and make space for him. When we go to Le Bistrot Antoine together (which we do as often as possible), they never blink an eye to shift the tables a bit so that Jody can move in and up to the end of the table in his nifty motorized chair. You may recall a story I wrote this past May about Parisians who weren't as forgiving or accommodating in regard to the disable. (See this past issue) It was about a client of ours named Pat who purchased a ground level property in Le Marais that could be easily transformed to accommodate her disabled daughter when she visits a couple times a year. The property was specifically chosen for this reason, as the only modification necessary, other than internal changes to facilitate the wheelchair, was to re-open a door onto the courtyard that was at some previous time converted into a window. It also means creating a small stone path to that door and moving one plant about one-and-a-half feet. During the annual Assemblée Générale (meeting) of the copropriété (homeowners association) which took place the day after she took possession of the apartment, the request was formally made to make the very small change in the window and add the path. The change would not affect anything for the building, nor cost them anything. Even the path and the door would mirror what is on the other side of the courtyard, balancing it, in effect and for good looks. Shocking to all of us, the other owners, old and young alike, were unforgiving in their overwhelming decision to disallow her request. They actually had the audacity to say, "Madame, rue des Tournelles is not a place for the handicapped." They added: "You've been badly advised. You should sell the apartment and purchase one in another district where modern buildings can accommodate your daughter. You will never get permission." Pat was not to be deterred and hired an attorney to take the case to overturn their decision. Along with the architect, Nicole Champagnol, the plans were submitted to the City of Paris "Direction de l'Urbanisme" and the "Architecte des Bâtiments de France" for approval. This week, overjoyed at her good fortune, Pat called me in what was her middle of the night to tell me that she had received an official letter. Her proposed plans were approved by the city, lock, stock and barrel! This will now make it very difficult for the copropriété to stick to their very (what we think is an inhumane) decision. Congratulations Pat on Part I of your quest to be treated with equal respect! I will keep you all posted on the progress of the case and hope that in the meantime, we can all do what we can to support the physically challenged by challenging the authorities when necessary! A bientôt,
Adrian Leeds (in Nice)
Respond to Adrian: fpi@adrianleeds.com
P.S. I will be in New York City in September and am welcoming personal consultations September 21 through 24th on the subjects of working, living and investing in France for the special price of $330 for up to two hours (normally 330€. That's a $42 savings.) If you are interested, please email me at adrian@adrianleeds.com
Book your FREE personal consultation with Adrian Leeds! If you are a guest staying in any one of our luxurious Adrian Leeds Group Apartments in Paris and Nice, and would like to consider having your own "pied-à-terre" for your pleasure and profit, fill out our consultation request form for a free one-hour consultation while you're enjoying the apartment in the City of Light or on the Riviera. Visit Adrian Leeds Group Apartments to book your stay and for more information or email Adrian at adrian@adrianleeds.com. Buy and sell with French Property Insider classifieds! Earn money. Become an Introduction Partner of French Property Consultation! Read past issues of French Property Insider...
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