Impatience rumbles in the face of a collection of buildings in very poor condition that disfigures one of the main tourist entrances to Old Montreal.
The century-old buildings on rue Saint-Antoine, between Clark and Saint-Urbain, have belonged since 2020 to the Palais des congrès de Montréal, which plans to expand its facilities there.
Pending the completion of the project – which does not seem to arouse enthusiasm in Quebec City – the current buildings are gathering dust. Their appearance deteriorated further last year with the installation of an imposing metal structure to support one of the facades. All in front of the eyes of thousands of tourists coming out of the Place-d’Armes metro or the coaches that park just in front.
“It’s hard,” lamented heritage advocate Dinu Bumbaru of Heritage Montreal.
While the Palais des Congrès project is progressing – which is not at full speed – it might be a good idea to have a temporary improvement strategy […] so that it won’t be painful.
Dinu Bumbaru, heritage advocate at Héritage Montréal
“Having abandoned buildings is not worthy of Montreal, especially downtown,” said Aurélie de Blois, spokesperson for Tourisme Montréal. “Any improvement in the urban fabric is a plus for our destination. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The Palais des congrès de Montréal plans to expand its facilities.
Last December, the Minister of Finance of Quebec publicly affirmed that the current size of the Palais des Congrès was sufficient, before his office specified that the expansion project was still under study.
For years, before their expropriation for 22 million in 2020, the land was targeted by Quebec land reserves which blocked their development. A 20-storey tower project comprising 142 housing units was notably torpedoed.
“consolidation work”
The Palais des congrès de Montréal, although a public body, refused all interview requests from The Press on this situation. He also refused to transmit the expertise carried out on these buildings.
In an unsigned email, we were told that these buildings “had been abandoned for more than 10 years” before their purchase in 2020. places, continues the missive. These having demonstrated the dilapidation of these buildings, the Palais des congrès promptly began the consolidation work required to secure the premises. »
The organization added that it had proceeded with the installation of “protective scaffolding on the facade”, the “reintroduction of electricity to heat the buildings during the winter” and the “general consolidation of the buildings “. The Palais des Congrès added that it was aware that a huge belly of beef was growing on a brick wall of one of the buildings.
“A must”
The elected official responsible for urban planning within the Plante administration, Robert Beaudry, represents the district where this set of buildings is located.
In a telephone interview, he said he wanted to know “very quickly” the intentions of the Quebec government regarding the expansion of the Palais des Congrès “to work on an approach on these buildings”.
It will be important for us as an administration to sit down with them [le Palais des congrès] to find out what the game plan is.
Robert Beaudry, responsible for urban planning at the City of Montreal
For Tourisme Montréal, there is no doubt about the solution to the problem: “These buildings will cease to obstruct the view when they are transformed towards the desired vocation: the expansion of the Palais des congrès, wrote Aurélie de Blois. For Tourisme Montréal, it’s a must. Each year, the Palais’ insufficient capacity is an obstacle to a few dozen organizations potentially interested in Montreal to hold their business events there. »
“Very rare items”
Robert Beaudry and Dinu Bumbaru pointed out that despite their poor condition, the buildings in question still have a certain heritage value.
“There are buildings, for some, that are very interesting. We had the chance to visit the one on the side of rue Saint-Urbain. The exterior is in need of some love for now, but the interior has some very rare elements from 19th century interiors.e century, Mr. Bumbaru said. These are not just facades. »
It would be frankly deplorable if the solution for the Palais des Congrès was to destroy these buildings, he added, especially since they are located on the outskirts of the heritage zone of Old Montreal, which begins just on the other side of Saint Antoine Street.
Destroying them, “that’s not what we want,” he said. “You can’t throw pieces of the city on the ground and put grass in their place. »
Construction sites, more construction sites
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The Saint-Laurent overpass is being repaired, a project that undermines the beauty of Old Montreal.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Intersection of King and William streets, at the western edge of Old Montreal
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Construction site on King Street, near William Street
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Late bequest of 375e Montreal’s anniversary, the Place des Montréalaises is still under construction.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The place of Montrealers
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The dilapidated buildings are not the only ones to undermine the view at the entrance to Old Montreal. Several major works encircle the neighborhood, including the repair of the Saint-Laurent overpass and the construction sites of two overdue legacies of 375e Montreal’s anniversary celebrated in 2017, namely Place des Montréalaises and Square Viger.