The creation of the Quartier international de Montréal was one of the cornerstones of the rebirth of the city’s downtown core. Two of his “fathers” are pleased to see him reach adulthood, but deplore that his maintenance by the City is not up to the mark.
Prestigious real estate projects have multiplied there since 2003, while custom-designed street furniture and carefully chosen materials are deteriorating. Montreal recognizes that it faces a maintenance “challenge”.
Located between Old Montreal and downtown, this corner of the metropolis was completely reimagined in the 1990s and 2000s, after decades of desolation. The idea was to repair the scars left by the construction of the Ville-Marie tunnel – in a trench at this point – and the major expropriations that had scarred it.
PHOTO THE PRESS
Street furniture is visibly deteriorating in the Quartier international.
When the Palais des Congrès was installed above the highway in 1983, delegates who set their noses outside were treated to a very sad vision of Montreal: ” parkings everywhere,” recalls Clément Demers, showing The Press.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Clément Demers is one of the fathers of the Quartier international.
It didn’t look like an environment. It was the image of Montreal!
Clement Demers
Professor of architecture at the University of Montreal, Mr. Demers was at the head of the Quartier international company, responsible for coordinating the rebirth of the site. In addition to contributions from various levels of government, businesses and landowners in the area have also agreed to contribute financially to the project, a rarity.
Objective: to create “a world-class district”, a showcase for the metropolis. Architecture firm Daoust Lestage and industrial designer Michel Dallaire were at the drawing board.
“Notice, everywhere the paving goes up to the walls, whereas elsewhere in Montreal it ends at the limit of the property of the City”, he explains, pointing finger, rue Saint-Alexandre. “And there is nothing at the bottom of the sidewalk. All the street furniture is here [sur le bord de la rue]. So the sidewalks are much wider, much more pleasant. Signage is minimal. It’s all about the streetlights. »
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Sculpture by Roseline Granet The great Jean-Pauldepicting Quebec artist Jean Paul Riopelle, is located in the Quartier international.
Rather than spoiling the landscape as elsewhere in the city, the technical equipment is largely hidden: underground for those who supply the sculpture-fountain The Joustingby Riopelle, or in street furniture for others.
“Regrettable”
But at just 20 years old, the Quartier international is already beginning to bear the marks of time.
“The benches are broken, the lampposts are full of stickies, the unistone is broken everywhere on the sidewalks because of the equipment used by the City”, regrets Richard Hylands, president of the Association of residents of the Quartier international de Montréal . The property developer has been associated with the project since its inception.
There is not a garbage can that we installed that remains functional. The furniture is in poor condition at the moment. It’s unfortunate for what it cost.
Richard Hylands, President of the Association of Residents of the Quartier international de Montréal
And what it cost, Mr. Hylands knows: part of the neighborhood was built thanks to the special contributions that its members agreed to pay over 20 years. These payments end precisely these months.
PHOTO THE PRESS
In the Quartier international de Montréal, the pavement is damaged in many places.
“We had signed the maintenance protocol with the City, which was the basis of the promoters’ contribution, but the City never respected the special maintenance that was supposed to be done,” he added.
Clément Demers is much less virulent, but also notes that there is “room for improvement” in the interview. He adds that he is “saddened” when he sees disparate additions to the neighborhood – bollards for cycle paths, chargers for electric cars – for which no visual harmonization work seems to have been done.
A challenge ”
Responsible for urban planning at Montreal City Hall, Robert Beaudry says he is proud that Montreal can enjoy a sector like the Quartier international.
PHOTO THE PRESS
The City of Montreal recognizes that it faces “a challenge” in connection with the maintenance of street furniture.
“We managed to federate a fairly strong core at the international economic level, with head offices, international organizations in the sector. Magnificent squares have been developed, it is a very interesting and constantly evolving district,” he explained in a telephone interview.
PHOTO ARCHIVES PRESS
Robert Beaudry, head of urban planning at Montreal City Hall
It is a mixed neighborhood, with residents and places of business, very much like Montreal.
Robert Beaudry, head of urban planning at Montreal City Hall
As for the maintenance of the premises, Robert Beaudry recognizes that the City faces “a challenge”.
The custom-designed street furniture for the neighborhood looks great, but “it comes with big, big, big challenges in replacing and maintaining it,” he said. “Sometimes there are components that are hard to find on the market. Sometimes there are things that will deteriorate faster than expected. It’s difficult, it’s complex. »