The federal Crown corporation that manages the Old Port of Montreal is abandoning its major plan to revitalize the sector for budgetary reasons, we have learned The Press. This notably provided for a redevelopment of access to several platforms.
Announced in 2017, the start of the project was postponed to 2022, then to 2024. It will ultimately never see the light of day in its current form, indicated the Canada Lands Company (CIS) in an email to The Press.
“The teams will now redirect their efforts towards the development of an alternative plan for the revitalization of the Old Port of Montreal,” indicated Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern, communications manager. “This new plan will include different investment options and adjusted timetables. »
The decision stems from the bids obtained to carry out the first phase of the project. They denoted “a significant increase in construction costs, accentuated by economic challenges and the unpredictability of income”, indicated Mr. Gomez-Wiuckstern. The contractors who submitted on the project asked for 20% to 30% more than the SIC estimate. “It’s too expensive right now. »
This first project was estimated at 50 million. “After careful consideration, the Canada Lands Company (CLC) has decided to suspend the progress of the construction contract for the initial phase of the master plan project for the Old Port of Montreal,” continued the spokesperson for the company. CIS.
In 2022, the state company nevertheless indicated that the project was “progressing well”, after a slowdown in the pace of development of the project caused by the pandemic.
First phase
This first phase of work was to include a “reconfiguration of the entrances leading to the Quai King-Edward, Jacques-Cartier and de l’Horloge”, as well as a “redevelopment of the promenade connecting the Quai King-Edward to the Quai de l’Horloge to add trees and grassy areas to replace certain concrete areas.”
Objective: visually extend Old Montreal to the river and improve pedestrian circulation. The plan was the subject of lengthy public consultations.
The following phases were to include the construction of large staircases to descend to the level of the St. Lawrence River and the replacement of the vast parking lot on Quai de l’Horloge with a gathering place.
The SIC says it remains “fully committed to the revitalization of the Old Port”.
“The SIC is a partner with which the City already collaborates and with which it will continue to collaborate in order to ensure the alignment of visions, both on the territory of the Société du Vieux-Port and that of Old Montreal (the latter being administered by the City),” responded Valérie Plante’s office.
Last year, the state company failed to convince the courts that the Old Port constituted a “park”, subject to extremely advantageous taxation. The City of Montreal argued the opposite. The litigation risks costing the Canada Lands Company (CLC) more than twenty million dollars.