Fire stations get make-overs

The Tremblay-Zampino administration initiative does not only affect Ahuntsic-Cartierville. In all, nine stations (23, 25, 29,35, 39,42, 44, 46, and 50) and two Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) administrative buildings – headquarters and the training centre – will also go through a make-over with a total bill of $8.5 million.

This decision was announced during the March 19 Montreal executive committee meeting, and a call for offers was also made. The contracts should be announced soon, and work will begin before the end of the month and be complete by March 2010.

“These investments are essential and will assure a more secure and safe work environment for the personnel that works there. As principle owner of these buildings, the City must do what is necessary to stop the deterioration of these buildings and preserve its assets,” said Claude Dauphin.

“Because of their high heritage value, the two stations in Ahuntsic-Cartierville are high on our list of priorities,” Dauphin underlined. And this is not without reason: Station 35 at 10827 Lajeunesse Rd. in Ahuntsic has been there since 1929, and the station in the Bordeaux-Cartierville sector was reconstructed in 1963. This will be the first time both buildings are having a make-over.

At Station 35 – which Dauphin calls “one of the most beautiful of historic Montreal” – the stonework and floor will be repaired and the windows and heating system will be replaced. The administrative offices will also be redone, like at Station 42 in 2005-2006. The cost of the work: $2.15 millions.

The City will invest $1.15 million in Station 42, which “is in an advanced state of deterioration,” Dauphin said. Notable renovations include the roof, windows, heating system, and electric system.

Dauphin hopes that “future generations will thank us for rebuilding the beauty of these stations,” and that Montreal will follow the example of many European cities where these types of buildings are valued and make up part of the scenery.

The SIM has about 70 buildings, 66 of which are fire stations in the Montreal area. The majority of the SIM’s buildings are over 50 years old.