Despite the plan presented last summer by Valérie Plante’s administration, tensions remain in the Village, this district of Ville-Marie where homelessness and the sale of drugs are part of daily life.
The restaurant Le Passé Composé Montréal, located on Boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, announced to its customers on Thursday its intention to relocate its activities. “The Ville-Marie district is in the grip of unprecedented decadence, which prevents us from investing in this location in order to counter the obsolescence of our premises,” wrote the establishment in a message published on its Facebook page Thursday. “Out of concern for the safety of our employees and our customers, following numerous events (fire, theft, vandalism, presence of syringes and human excrement on our terrace every new day, use of our facilities as a makeshift camp and harassment physical presence of employees and customers), we must temporarily suspend our operations and move them to another sector. »
The restaurant mentions that the situation is made difficult given the lack of resources. “The absence of resources and the denial of the city authorities prevent traders from finding a viable balance,” it says.
Not far from there, the director of the Théâtre la Comédie de Montréal reports similar difficulties. Jamin Chtouki notes that the police are more present, but otherwise, few changes have been observed on the ground, he maintains. “There is drug trafficking on street corners. It’s always the same problem. » According to him, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the situation. And we need more places to accommodate the homeless, he said.
Last June, Mayor Plante unveiled her plan aimed at bringing some peace to this neighborhood marked by increasing homelessness, drug addiction and violence. Comprising 35 actions, this plan notably provided for increased police surveillance, the addition of cleanliness brigades and investments in urban development and site animation.
The general director of the Village’s Commercial Development Corporation (SDC), Gabrielle Rondy, nevertheless judges that the City’s initiatives have made it possible to observe a little progress. The closure of the restaurant Le Passé compound surprises him. “It was a very busy establishment. We were very surprised to read that this morning,” she said. But as the restaurant was not a member of its SDC, it was not questioned. “We could have accompanied him even if he’s not a member. »
Mme Rondy recognizes that cohabitation remains problematic in Le Village, especially in winter, and that it is difficult to conclude that the climate has improved. “When there are people in the summer, things are better. We recorded more than 10 million pedestrian crossings,” she recalls. “It varies from day to day, from one kilometer to the next. It’s very variable. »
One of the avenues examined by the SDC is to offer a diversity of businesses, which would allow greater use of the street during the day, she said. “Pedestrianization has brought a certain homogenization of the type of businesses. It favors bars and restaurants. Are there any clothing stores missing? Bookstores? Florists? Cheese shops and butchers? Yes. There are plenty of types of businesses that would be beneficial to have in the Village,” says M.me Rondy. The SDC has also commissioned a study which will identify the businesses that residents want in Le Village.
According to her, the work carried out by the Mobile Mediation and Social Intervention Team (EMMIS) in the neighborhood is improving the situation. “Merchants know who to call when there are cohabitation issues,” she says. The fact remains that the authorities must better finance community organizations.
Mme Rondy refuses to forfeit. Some 20,000 new residents are expected in the next 15 years with real estate development projects, she emphasizes.
Moreover, the Plante administration must unveil its plan on Friday morning concerning Îlot Voyageur and the development of the land it owns.