Residents of Old Montreal are expressing mounting frustration over their inability to access vehicles trapped in a parking facility due to a fire. With communication from the City lacking, Romain Prudhomme, president of the local condominium association, highlights the difficulties in obtaining timely updates. Despite attempts to resolve the issue, efforts have been met with bureaucratic obstacles. Neighbors face significant inconveniences, including reliance on taxis, while the City shifts responsibility to the building’s owner.
Frustration for Residents Stuck Without Their Vehicles
Residents whose cars have been trapped in an indoor parking facility following a tragic fire in Old Montreal are growing increasingly frustrated with the City’s lack of action and communication. They feel abandoned and are tired of the drawn-out process that seems to lead nowhere.
Romain Prudhomme, the president of the condominium association on Notre-Dame Street, expressed his dismay: “The communication is astonishingly poor. While we recognize that solutions may take time, we simply want the opportunity to speak to someone face-to-face. Being left in silence is unacceptable.”
The situation began after a fire engulfed a historic building on the night of October 4, leaving the residents of 15 adjacent condominiums without access to their vehicles for over eight weeks. The only escape route involves navigating a few meters along a precarious brick wall that poses a risk of collapse, currently blocked by a security perimeter. Meanwhile, the entrance to the garage has turned into a spot for homeless individuals, leaving behind litter and hazardous items.
Endless Bureaucratic Loops
Despite recent demolition efforts to alleviate the situation, residents are still waiting for updates from the City. Romain Prudhomme has reached out to 311 multiple times, only to be sent in circles. Initially directed to the fire safety service, he was later told that it was the City’s responsibility to resolve the issue.
“We were advised to include an audio message from the fire chief for the City to finally take notice,” Prudhomme lamented. “It feels like we’re just going around in circles.” An email from 311 indicated that the case was forwarded to the Inspection and Maintenance Division, but no follow-up has occurred.
Even the management company for their association is struggling to navigate the municipal red tape. Prudhomme believes the solution is simple: “Just add gravel to create a small ramp, remove two metal poles obstructing the way, and shift the perimeter fences a short distance to allow us to retrieve our cars.”
Meanwhile, his neighbor, Jérémy Voisin, has made around fifty calls to the office of councilor Robert Beaudry, only to be met with silence until he threatened legal action. “It’s outrageous. We’re left to figure this out alone,” Voisin said, noting his urgent need for his vehicle for work and to care for his elderly mother.
Adding to his woes, Prudhomme, a father, now has to rely on taxis to transport his two young children, which he describes as “not safe.” In an email response to inquiries, the City has shifted the blame to the building’s owner, Émile Benamor, stating, “As this is not a City site, we encourage citizens to contact the owner of the damaged building for timelines on the work.”
Prudhomme reacted with disbelief: “This is the first we’ve heard that we need to reach out to the owner. It’s astounding that the City refuses to take responsibility for access to a public thoroughfare.”