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By injecting a splash of color into the blinds, the City Council aims to create an illusion that Damgan is bustling with life, rather than appearing as a town in \u00a0mothballs\u00a0 for the majority of the year. The vibrant colors are a call to action\u2014an attempt to breathe life into this once-thriving community, which has been heavily burdened by an overwhelming amount of second residences.<\/p>\n
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A staggering statistic: 74%<\/strong>. Damgan’s predicament is emblematic of a wider issue affecting numerous tourist towns, both in France and abroad\u2014the concerning trend of prioritizing \u00a0second residences\u00a0 over permanent housing. In Damgan, the trend is particularly pronounced, with a remarkable 74% of properties classified as second residences, a figure that peaked at a daunting 80% prior to the City Council’s intervention. This alarming statistic raises questions about the sustainability of a community that experiences a population influx from just \u00a01,900 residents\u00a0 in winter to a bustling \u00a030,000\u00a0 during the peak summer months.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why does it matter?<\/strong> The ramifications of this imbalance between seasonal and stable housing extend beyond surface aesthetics. Mayor Labesse highlights that this disparity jeopardizes essential services, such as local schools. In a particularly telling example, one year saw the local kindergarten register only a single baby, a stark indicator of the town’s demographic troubles. \u201cIt is a crucial issue for the people,\u201d he states emphatically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additionally, this surge in holiday housing is making waves in the local real estate market. Le Parisien<\/em> spoke to a 50-year-old carpenter who found it impossible to secure housing despite having a decent income. He lamented, \u201cWorkers cannot live here; they have to go 20 km out. We are becoming a town for older people.\u201d This sentiment resonates with locals who feel increasingly marginalized in their own community. Initiatives like ‘Les Volets Ouverts’ work to connect residents with empty homes, shedding light on the dire need for affordable housing options.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lessons from Damgan<\/strong>. While Damgan’s trials are telling, it is crucial to recognize that it is not an isolated case. France grapples with an estimated 3.2 million second residences, accounting for nearly 10% of the nation\u2019s housing stock. The problem is accentuated in coastal regions like Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-C\u00f4te d’Azur, where holiday homes dominate with percentages reaching \u00a014%\u00a0. Other towns such as Carnac and Trinit\u00e9 reflect similar patterns, with second residences constituting around 72% of their housing stock. This situation is compounded by a lack of permanent housing available for local workers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Global Perspective<\/strong>. The implications of second homes extend beyond France\u2019s borders. In London, the issue has reached such critical levels that local authorities are implementing fiscal measures to incentivize owners to rent out these empty properties. Reports highlighted that around 30,000 homes in the city lay vacant for extended periods. Even in the United States, locations like Marinette-Ron Mountain are seeing over \u00a025%\u00a0 of their housing classified as seasonal or recreational, mirroring the concerns faced in places like Damgan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The phenomenon of seasonally occupied homes also resonates within Spain. In \u00a0Ibiza\u00a0 and \u00a0Formentera\u00a0, significant portions of the residential market consist of second homes. Despite this being a popular tourist destination, a report from Ibiza Diario<\/em> noted that in 2023, approximately 6,200 of the \u00a086,000\u00a0 properties were inhabited sporadically, further complicated by a staggering \u00a044%\u00a0 of houses in certain areas considered non-primary residences. The implication is clear: many towns are now mere “cities of the blinds,” where the majority of homes stand empty for most of the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through the vibrant transformation of Damgan, local authorities aim to not only beautify the town but also address the deeper systemic challenges facing this unique coastal community. The colorful blinds serve as a metaphor for the urgent need to cultivate a sustainable living environment, fostering a sense of community that transcends seasonal tourism.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750402709_396_The-prices-in-Spain-are-leading-British-tourists-to-Morocco.jpeg\"\/)
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