The building with its peaceful Japanese tea garden and Salle Japonaise needed extensive renovation.
When the property magnate Charles Cohen bought the La Pagode cinema in Paris, complete with its celebrated Japanese garden, three years ago, he announced that as an American in Paris he wanted “everyone to be happy”.
The organisation pointed out that the building, garden and surrounding walls were all protected by heritage listing: “This project undermines the system of protection of French monuments.
Matthew Fraser, a professor at the American University of Paris, said locals were “outraged” by the felling of La Pagode’s trees.