The beginning of the end

Nearly 21 buildings were demolished last month. There remains no more than four still standing. Among those, two buildings belonging to the organization Ressource Habitation de l’Ouest will remain standing along the construction site. “2020 Place Henri-Bourassa will be demolished only when new social housing units are built,” said Marjolaine Larocque, a community organizer and member of Ressource Habitation de l’Ouest. “The 26 tenants of this building will be relocated to the new units. These residences should be available as of summer 2010.”

While waiting, tenants of 2020 and 2090, Place Henri-Bourassa have to put up with work inconveniences. Noise, debris and shaking walls are now part of their daily life. Patrick Marcoux, a resident, is so glad to see the work progress that he is not even disturbed to see the buildings coming down. “Work does not disturb me too much, because I work during the day,” he said while being visited by the Courrier Bordeaux-Cartierville.

Mireille Foisy-Hotte, a spokesperson for the community project “Places en mouvement” whose office is located on site, confirms that the debris is piling up and does not yet see the difference. “There is so much debris that we are still surrounded as if the buildings are still here,” she said.

The project to replace Places l'Acadie and Henri-Bourassa includes 1,300 units, featuring 216 social housing, 480 low cost co-op housing and 600 rental units for seniors. This will be spread over three residential buildings with three to 16 floors. (Translated by Michael Beigleman)