The owner of the century-old building whose instability has forced the closure of Sainte-Catherine Street West for more than a month must act urgently, says Montreal.
The office of the mayoress of Montreal met with a representative of the New York billionaire who owns the Jaeger building, earlier this week, to urge him to secure the premises.
“We were very clear with him: following the analyses, he must act quickly to make interventions,” said Robert Beaudry, the elected official in charge of urban planning on Valérie Plante’s executive committee. “We told him to go very, very quickly. If he does not, we will take the necessary steps and our responsibilities, which could go as far as intervening ourselves. We want this to be fixed. »
Rue Sainte-Catherine was urgently closed at the end of March between Avenue McGill College and Boulevard Robert-Bourassa after receiving a disturbing engineer’s report. The Jaeger building was affected by the fire of its two neighbors, which occurred in 2021.
At the start of the week, The Press reported that several traders in the sector are getting impatient with this prolonged emergency shutdown.
Valérie Plante said she had spoken with them in the last few days. “We understand their concern, we understand that it can be frustrating for them, because they want to conduct their business,” she said. “We have renovated the street […] to attract more people, not less. It’s frustrating for them and I have to say it’s frustrating for us. But it’s progressing. »
“We didn’t put that money on Sainte-Catherine Street to see another fence,” continued Robert Beaudry. “It bothers us too. »
The Jaeger building was built at the end of the 19e century, but it is its Gothic façade of vitrified terracotta that sets it apart in the eyes of heritage lovers.
André Jude, the building owner’s Montreal representative, did not call back The Press.