The Plante administration says it has “still questions” about the federal courthouse project in Old Montreal, construction of which has nevertheless begun.
Posted at 3:45 p.m.
The elected official responsible for urban planning on the executive committee, Robert Beaudry, explained that he was able to see plans of the future building and made requests to Ottawa. According to 2020 tender documents, the building could be 10 stories tall.
“We are still missing elements and that is why we are working with the federal government,” said Mr. Beaudry, cryptically, on the sidelines of an interview. “As of today, we still have questions and we have asked questions of the federal government. Our wish is to have answers. »
“We want to go a little further in evaluating the project,” he continued.
The Press revealed on Wednesday that heritage defenders are worried to see the federal construction site getting underway without the public having been able to judge the building which will be built on vacant land near Place d’Armes.
“We are worried because we have not received any official information,” lamented Christine Caron, administrator of the Association of Residents of Old Montreal. “Faced with such opacity, we can only be concerned,” added Dinu Bumbaru, of Héritage Montréal.
Ottawa does not have to respect provincial legislation or municipal regulations in its construction projects. As Old Montreal is a heritage site, the Ministry of Culture must usually look into any renovation project in the area, but not in the case of a federal project.
“It’s a heritage sector, on the one hand. On the other hand, it is an area that is inhabited. We expect the integration to be carried out in an exemplary manner,” continued Robert Beaudry. “We are working with our partner, the federal government, to ensure that this integration is exemplary. »
“We share with them our wishes and our expectations, which are very, very, very high for any project in Old Montreal,” said the elected official.
