The Neighborhood Economy

The tower generates economic ripples throughout surrounding districts:

Direct Employment: Beyond the 600 tower employees, thousands work in related tourism—hotels, restaurants, tour operators, souvenir vendors. The legitimate economy blends with informal sellers of miniature towers and selfie sticks, creating complex social dynamics.

Gentrification Pressures: Property values soar, pushing out long-time residents and small businesses. Yet pockets resist—rent-controlled apartments, protected shops, stubborn holdouts who refuse generous buyout offers. The battle between global capital and local community plays out building by building.

Cultural Economy: Museums, theaters, and galleries benefit from tower proximity. The Musée d'Orsay, Rodin Museum, and Army Museum create a cultural district anchored by the tower. Street artists perform for tower crowds, creating informal stages where accordion clichés alternate with break-dancing innovation.