A capitalist consortium owns the 17th Century building where Picasso had his studio for 19 years. It was the place that saw the birth of master works like the emblematic Guernica. For more than a decade, le grenier de Picasso (Picasso's attic) has been occupied rent-free by a private cultural organization, the Comité National Pour l'Education Artistique (CNEA), which has maintained it as a venue for exhibitions and children's workshops. Now the owners of the building want it back and have issued an eviction order. In what is shaping up to be a possible negotiation of the building, it was announced last month that the historic landmark could become a luxury hotel following renovations of the iconic Savoie in the French Capital. This possibility elicited such public condemnation that it prompted an emergency meeting with the city's urban planning authorities to discuss the issue. The revamping of the space would imply erasing the physical memory of the master under the argument that it has become necessary to evolve with the design as the artist is no longer physically present. The agreement with the CNEA expired in 2010 and, since then, they have not been willing to vacate the premises. The CNEA sent a letter to French President, François Hollande, in which they asked him to intervene on their behalf and requested that the studio be declared a historic site. "The place was abandoned and we renovated it completely, respecting its original state," said Alain Casabona, a CNEA spokesperson. "We found a prominent individual, and direct descendant of the late Picasso, who is interested in taking over the property and is not opposed to the CNEA staying." However, Alexandra Romano, spokesperson for the consortium, announced that the eviction order is still in effect as the final ruling by the judge assigned to the case is announced in September of 2015.