The organization had planned an information evening at the Fairmount community center where Sherbrooke residents were able to familiarize themselves with the project planned on land on rue du Pacifique, near the University of Sherbrooke.
The presentation was summarized on information panels, where UTILE representatives were ready to answer questions.
The nonprofit student housing project provides units for master’s and doctoral students. The building must have six floors, three less than the limit permitted by town planning regulations.
The new construction will not have a balcony, but it will have a covered terrace. The project provides for 134 parking lots, including 80 exterior spaces and 54 interior spaces.
The absence of a balcony reassured Martine Pomerleau, a citizen who lives very close to the planned land on Pacific Street, as did the number of floors planned, which will allow her to still have a view of the surrounding area.
Another citizen who preferred not to identify herself had the same concerns before and after her visit. The latter was worried about the arrival of a living environment that could be “disruptive” next to her home, and the surrounding view which could be affected, among other things with the development of another parking lot.
Councilors Paul Gingues and Danielle Berthold attended the information meeting. (Maxime Picard/La Tribune)
Elected officials from the municipal council came, including councilor Paul Gingues, as well as councilors Hélène Dauphinais, Danielle Berthold and Geneviève La Roche, president of the central planning advisory committee of Sherbrooke.
“We are happy that it is happening. What matters to me is that people are consulted,” commented Mr. Gingues, who represents the University district.
Does such an evening allow us to measure social acceptability? “It can give a good indicator, it’s a good start,” he replies.
Mr. Gingues emphasizes that there was initially a question of 75 units on the targeted land [NDLR : comme le permettait la réglementation municipale]; the current scenario now foresees 180, notably for reasons of viability.
While UTILE was publicly worried and impatient about ten days ago, the project is still not on the municipal council’s agenda on Tuesday evening. According to the organization, the municipal council must authorize the project due to exemptions from a subdivision regulation.
Director of public affairs at UTILE, Élise Tanguay says she remains optimistic and hopes that the issue can be addressed before Christmas.
The evening provided an opportunity to answer people’s questions, including reassuring them that an employee will be on site once the building is ready.
The information evening on the UTILE project was held at the Fairmount community center. (Maxime Picard/La Tribune)
Retired employee of the University of Sherbrooke, Benoit Huberdeau is openly in favor of the project.
“If it were not to happen, the university district would be condemned to immobility,” says this resident of the area.
“We hear a lot of things in the neighborhood. There is an anti-student feeling,” argues the man who has been made aware of the reality of students through his work.
The organization wants to begin construction in the fall of 2025 and is targeting summer 2027 for tenants to move in. He also wishes to proceed with the preparation of plans for permits in the spring and fall of 2025.
REMDUS, the association which represents master’s and doctoral students at the University of Sherbrooke, has granted an amount of $800,000 to make this initiative a reality. UTILE estimates that the project will respond to a great need for student housing in Sherbrooke, which has some 20,000 student tenants.
The organization has several student housing buildings across the province, including in Trois-Rivières and Montreal.
A project is also underway in Rimouski, very affected by the housing crisis.
“It will be delivered this summer. This is truly a record-breaking construction; 10 months to go from idea to project. It’s very quick,” explains Élise Tanguay.
Some 44 people visited during the evening, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Related News :