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It is common today to hear complaints about urban sprawl. Those who make them are proably unaware that such sprawl has probably  been going on — and complained about --  since the dawn of recorded history. The earliest hermits, or at least those who happily labeled themselves as hermits, probably were reacting to urban sprawl.

The coming of modern transportation, i.e., canals, railroads, street cars, led to major expansion of cities. Places that were once "remote" from the center became within easy distance. Such was the fate of Belleville, It is a very old place, once a village considered entirely separate from Paris. But at the end of the 19th century its life was so entwined with that of Paris proper that law was made to catch up and it became part of the new political structure of Paris.

This was nothing unique. The same technology was being deployed throughout what we now call "The West". London grew. New York amalgamated with Brooklyn. And on and on.

Belleview has long been known as a working man's district. In 1871 it was the home to many revolutionaries of the Paris Commune and was one of their last hold outs against the national government.

Today it has a great mixture of housing. Old squares with old style Parisian 5 story walkups. And, encroaching more and more, modern 10, 15, and higher storied buildings with all the amenities, including elevators. It also has an interesting mixture of people, being a favorite place to live for immigrants. That also means that immigrant food is also available, especially Vietnamese and north African.