The owner’s tour | The nature park as a neighbor

Owners open the doors of their exceptional homes to us, offered on the resale market

Montreal houses that have a nature park as a neighbor in the back are not found in the streets. Our property this week has that chance. Well founded in 1910, in the right place on Gouin Boulevard in Ahuntsic, the property benefits from the unique environment of the Île-de-la-Visitation nature park, which runs along the Rivière des Prairies.

Isn’t it the best of both worlds to benefit from the services of a metropolis, while living in a green and peaceful place? “It wasn’t as quiet 40 years ago,” remember René Chapleau and Nicole Laurier, referring to the fact that when they bought the house in 1986, there was a lot of traffic on the narrow boulevard. Gouin.

The couple and other residents of the Sault-au-Récollet neighborhood mobilized to make change. They ended up obtaining reverse one-way traffic which diverted traffic onto the main arteries, thereby increasing the safety and tranquility of this heritage district. “Now we can see children playing in the street,” rejoices Nicole.

Return to its original form

After their purchase, Nicole and René had a lot to do in this house, which the previous owners had transformed into a duplex, to earn an income. The result of this transformation was not the happiest, especially since the tenants had to pass through the accommodation below to go upstairs. “They had built a wall next to the staircase, one of the rooms on the ground floor was no longer accessible… It was crooked inside,” Nicole summarizes.

Our couple worked to restore the house to its original form, that is to say a single-family house typical of the period, with the bedrooms upstairs. This, while striving to save original elements such as woodwork, hardwood floors, plaster moldings, etc.

When it was impossible to save this or that element of the ground floor, the owners had it redone identically.

As for the kitchen, which was dark and no longer met modern standards, they had it completely rebuilt, and opened up the view by adding windows and French doors. As the other kitchen, the one at the top of “the late duplex”, would no longer be used, it was demolished to make way for a spacious bathroom, which includes a laundry section. The electricity and plumbing have been redone, says Nicole, as has the white roof, which is two years old.

The 14-room house has 3 bedrooms upstairs – 4 in total, if we include a room on the ground floor, which is currently described as an office. The property also has a basement apartment, which was used for the visit. It has a bedroom, a kitchenette, a full bathroom and a separate entrance.

Location, location, location

As the adage goes, the three main criteria when it comes to real estate are: location, location, and location. This property has everything right for those who appreciate nature and tranquility within a big city. Those who prefer the lively neighborhood of boutiques, restaurants and trendy bars will find what they are looking for elsewhere.

That said, we are not in the depths of a campaign here. Besides the fact that we have the impression of being a bit like a village in this district of Sault-au-Récollet, there are shops and schools a few minutes’ walk away, rue Fleury with its restaurants and its shops are not far away, and there is no shortage of cycle paths. The area is also well served by public transport. The bus takes you to the Henri-Bourassa metro station in around ten minutes.

Just like the location, the land is an undeniable asset. In this case, it is over 8,000 square feet and spans double width.

Which leaves plenty of room to arrange it to your liking. Nicole and René, for their part, have long cultivated flowers and vegetable gardens. They also had a large terrace made adjacent to the kitchen. In summer, the rear view overlooks the thick trees of the park. “In winter, you can see the river,” emphasizes René.

It would take almost nothing

Retired from teaching, the owners juggled with the idea of ​​undertaking new renovations. Tear down a wall or two to open up the space, modernize this and that… But the taste for adventure won out. “We traveled,” says Nicole. Furthermore, as we get older, the energy to undertake such projects tends to wane. “And then, that doesn’t mean that the renovations would please those who follow,” she puts things into perspective.

In any case, this house that they loved very much and in which they raised their son is now too big. Condo life seems more suited to their current reality. But it is certain that this vigorous centenarian with undeniable assets could be enhanced by targeted alterations and design tips. As Reggiani sang: “It would take almost nothing, maybe 10 years less for me to tell you…” However, it will be up to the next owners to complete the sentence to say to this house: “I love you. »

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