The house belongs to Rifaat Assad, the uncle of President Bashar and brother of the late Hafez Assad, who was Syrian President from 1971-2000.
It is located in the 16th arrondissement (administrative district) of Paris, on a 780 square meter plot of land, which has an estimated value of 90 million euros ($100 million).
The city of Paris has already disbursed 9.5 million euros for the land's purchase. The money has not yet been transferred to Assad, and is rather being held by France's Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, the investment arm of the French state.
After taking control of the property, the city authorities plan to construct 29 affordable apartments, a nursery and 14 parking spaces.
A view of the proposed location for the social housing from Google Maps.
Ian Brossat, Director of Housing at Paris City Hall told French newspaper Le Figaro that he is delighted with the decision.
"This is the cherry on the cake. To create social housing in the 16th arrondissement is satisfying. To do it on land that belongs to such a person, increases the pleasure tenfold," Brossat said.
