In France, a Road Paved With Good Intentions

Clare Foran unravels the relationship between misguided '70s-era planning efforts and ongoing racial tension in France.

2 minute read

November 25, 2012, 11:00 AM PST

By Ryan Lue


A small town not far from the northern coast of France, Val-de-Reuil was established as one of nine New Towns intended to transform the overcrowding and suburban sprawl that plagued French cities in the late '60s and early '70s. Forty years on, however, it has yet to deliver on its promises.

"Today it’s one of the poorest cities in France," writes Foran, who formerly taught English there. "Rows of four and five-story, low-rent apartment complexes line the streets with balconies jutting out from their concrete facades... There is no discernible city center. The architecture of the buildings is modern, but not cutting edge and the city has a stark, uniform look to it. In a country that prides itself on history and tradition, Val-de-Reuil seems out of place – a town of boxy, geometric construction in the middle of the French countryside."

And while the reasons for its failure are worth considering (high unemployment due to industry-worker mismatch; a weak tax base due to socioeconomic segregation), more troubling is the way that such projects have reinforced racial tensions in a nation whose immigration policy is built on a platform of integration, "which calls for assimilation into French society, in speech, dress, culture, and custom."

"Val-de-Reuil isn’t a typical French town. To dismiss the city as an anomaly, however, would be a mistake. Val-de-Reuil embodies a central irony of French urban planning policy. City planners have built up isolated urban enclaves, like the Paris suburbs and the New Towns, which keep the country’s immigrant population separate from the rest of society, at the same time that the government calls for integration."

Foran recalls seeing these same tensions erupt in her own classroom, and hearing how minority children received them firsthand: "'You’re lucky that you live in the U.S.," [said one 12-year-old of Algerian descent]. 'Don’t you like living in France?' I asked. 'No,' he replied with grim certainty. 'People are racist here. They take one look and decide they don’t like you.'"

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 in The Atlantic Cities

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today