A real estate development in Rimouski becomes the arena in which two crises collide: that of housing and that of the climate. In a municipality with a starving vacancy rate of 0.2%, the construction of 800 gates planned by the City is causing an outcry among those who fear the privatization of a forest which currently brings collective happiness.
It is in Pointe-au-Père, on land located a few kilometers from its city center, that Rimouski hopes to see hundreds of homes built capable of relieving, a little, its acute housing crisis.
It would be necessary to build 2,500 additional units to reach the equilibrium rate in Rimouski. The development of Pointe-au-Père would make it possible to achieve nearly a third of this objective. For its mayor, Guy Caron, the City “simply cannot pass up an opportunity like this. »
A mobilized citizen opposition does not see it the same way. The territory coveted by the City includes a forest frequented for decades by the population and a citizen front fears that Rimouski, in the name of the housing crisis, is handing over this corner of nature to private interests.
For Rimouski resident Simon Labadie, this forest is almost part of the family. In the summer, his brother built camps there. In the winter, it was his parents who went cross-country skiing there. He says he slowly saw his childhood neighborhood, near Richelieu Avenue, transform “American-style”: the suburbs gained ground, carving out large lots for small families condemned to driving in their smallest areas. travel.
“I myself am experiencing the housing crisis,” he explains on the phone. However, I believe that this forest must continue to belong to everyone. There are many people who cannot afford to go to Gaspésie or to national parks to appreciate nature. It is not normal for certain people, certain companies, to monopolize natural environments for their individual needs. »
I myself am experiencing the housing crisis. However, I believe that this forest must continue to belong to everyone. […] It is not normal for certain people, certain companies, to monopolize natural environments for their individual needs.
There is no question of destroying the forest as the citizen opposition claims, the mayor vehemently retorts. Quite the contrary: “if it was the City’s intention to raze the wooded area, we would have all the latitude to do so and to develop bungalows on top,” explains Guy Caron. We would not even be required to carry out consultations; we could just pay compensation for the destruction of wetlands and it would end there. »
Rimouski says it wants to soften the effects of development on the natural environment at all costs. The City is working on the guidelines that will guide the real estate boom in order, explains the mayor, to spare the forest as much as possible.
Despite the City’s assurances, citizen opposition is being heard in the municipal council. It calls for protecting the natural environment in the name of public health and the fight against climate change. “We have, insisted Monday the DD Dominique Bourassa, family doctor, mother of two children and participant in the Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment, a very great responsibility towards the next generations. »
The municipality admits that the development of Pointe-au-Père is an evil made necessary due to the housing crisis. In normal times, the sector would remain intact, but in a context of crisis where rent and property prices are skyrocketing, the status quo is untenable.
“It’s not realistic,” insists Guy Caron. There remains 12% of the territory on which we can develop in Rimouski and the Pointe-au-Père land represents 75% of our municipal land reserve. »
The citizen front is asking the City to favor the densification of its city center instead of setting its sights on a forest area whose development, in its eyes, favors urban sprawl.
“Eight hundred doors, when we look at the surface area, it is undeniable that it will strongly affect the environment,” believes Rachel Nadeau, a citizen of Rimouski who is completing her doctorate in environmental law. We must consider downtown first, where there are many underutilized spaces and huge parking lots capable of accommodating development. »
Easier said than done, retorts the mayor. Rimouski has “zero land” in its city center and its development plan does not provide for significant densification in the area. “I will also not hide from you that the moment a city shows interest in acquiring land,” adds Guy Caron, “its initial price doubles. »
The question, for decision-makers, is no longer whether, but rather how the development of Pointe-au-Père will take place. The City is discussing in particular with UTILE, an organization dedicated to student housing, and with the Angus development company, in order to prevent the sector from welcoming rental apartments at prohibitive prices.
We can no longer conceive of natural environments as land awaiting development.
Despite the promises of the Municipality, which assures that it wants to preserve the forest as much as possible and extend public transport to serve the future neighborhood, the citizen opposition does not intend to give up its weapons.
“We can no longer conceive of natural environments as land awaiting development,” believes the DD Bourassa, citing an editorial written by the president of the Order of Urban Planners of Quebec.
The mayor defends his action. “A coal-fired power plant that provides 20% of Poland’s electricity emits 38 million tonnes of CO equivalent2 per year, he illustrates. To arrive at the impact of this power plant, it would take 155 towns in Rimouski. This does not mean that we should do nothing, concludes Guy Caron, but if we take drastic solutions that prevent development, it will have a serious impact on the attractiveness of Rimouski in the future and, above all, on the affordability of the city in the future. »