Revival of Paris's Skyscraper District Collides With European Debt Crisis

Paris's Praetorium, a seven-story office building that opened in 2009, was hailed as the first step in President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to revitalize the city's La Defense skyscraper district. Today, it's still empty.

No companies were willing to lease the entire 10,000 square-meter (108,000 square-foot) building even after the rent was cut by 12 percent. The owner, Capital & Continental, is trying to find renters by offering smaller units.