Abandoned and forgotten. That’s how many describe Rue du Professeur-Gosset. It’s a street in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Yet it feels worlds away from the bustling city. Located just outside the périphérique it exists in a strange administrative limbo.
Rue du Professeur-Gosset is named after Antonin Gosset. He was a renowned surgeon who lived from 1872 to 1944. The street itself was opened in 1949. It was later renovated in 1966 during the construction of the périphérique. This created a physical separation between the street and the rest of Paris. The buildings along Rue du Professeur-Gosset belong to Saint-Ouen. The street itself however remains part of Paris.
This unusual situation has led to problems. The street has become a haven for illegal activities. Ferrailleurs scrap metal dealers and prostitutes have made it their home. Cars are often abandoned there. Mechanics work on vehicles illegally. Residents of Saint-Ouen complain that Paris has neglected the street. They describe it as a place of abandonment.
For years complaints have fallen on deaf ears. Residents sent numerous letters to officials. They have asked for solutions. They suggested several ideas to improve the area. The residents asked the city of Paris to hand over management of the road to Saint-Ouen. They also proposed widening sidewalks to eliminate parking spaces and deter illegal activity. Paris rejected both proposals.
The mayor of the 18th arrondissement acknowledges the issues. He points to ongoing efforts such as increased street cleaning. He suggests improvements might be possible after the completion of nearby tramway works. He mentioned the possibility of changing the street to two-way traffic. This would help to remove parking spaces used for illegal dumping and prostitution. The installation of barriers along the périphérique is also under consideration to prevent illegal camping. But for now Rue du Professeur-Gosset remains a place of contradictions a street caught between two worlds a testament to the complexities of urban planning. A street struggling to find its identity its place its purpose.