Residents whose vehicles have been stuck in an indoor parking lot since the fatal fire in Old Montreal can no longer bear wasting a lot of time dealing with the City, which leaves them in the lurch rather than looking for a solution.
“It’s incredible, the lack of communication. We understand that the solution may not be immediate, but we just want to speak to someone face to face. Do not wait without news,” says Romain Prudhomme, president of the co-ownership union on rue Notre-Dame.
The 15 condos are adjacent to a heritage building in Old Montreal that burned down on the night of October 4. For eight weeks, the cars of these Montrealers have been taken into the underground garage.
The cars of around ten residents are stuck in the indoor parking lot.
Photo Erika Aubin
To get out, they normally had to drive a few meters along a brick wall, which now threatens to collapse. A security perimeter therefore blocks the exit to the street. And since then, the entrance to the garage has become a gathering place for the homeless, who leave trash and syringes lying around.
Since the fire, the garage entrance has become a gathering place for the homeless, who leave trash and syringes lying around.
Photo Erika Aubin
However, part of the damaged wall was recently destroyed and workers were working inside the perimeter when we visited on Wednesday morning. Despite this, residents have not received any news from the City.
Go around in circles
The Journal reported a similar story on Monday. The owners of Muru Crêpe were unable to access their restaurant for a month and were also left in limbo.
For his part, Romain Prudhomme contacted 311 half a dozen times, who first referred him to the fire safety service before closing the request.
“The fire department told us that it was the City’s responsibility. It was necessary to attach audio from the fire chief in the email for the City to finally follow up. We were going completely in circles,” he says.
On October 9, 311 indicated by email that the request had been forwarded to the Inspection and Maintenance Division for someone to respond as soon as possible. No return since.
Even their union management company can’t get past the municipal bureaucracy.
The solution would be simple, however, according to Mr. Prudhomme: “We put gravel to make a small ramp, we remove two metal posts from the path and we pack the perimeter fences for a few minutes to get our cars out once and for all.”
The exit from the garage to the street normally runs alongside the building, now damaged.
Photo Erika Aubin
Legal measures
His neighbor Jérémy Voisin says he has called Councilor Robert Beaudry’s office around fifty times. He had to threaten legal action to finally get an appeal. However, he failed to get more information on the next steps.
“I find it absurd. We are left to our own devices,” protests the man who needs his car for work and to visit his elderly mother.
“I already have enough things to occupy myself with the reconstruction of my stricken unit,” says Romain Prudhomme with discouragement.
Without his car, the father has to take taxis with his children aged 2 and 4 on his knees: “It’s not safe.”
In response to our questions, the City blamed the controversial owner Émile Benamor for the construction site.
“Given that this is not a City project, we invite citizens to meet the owner of the damaged building to find out the work schedule,” was the response by email to the Journal.
“This is the first time we’ve heard that we need to contact the owner,” responded Romain Prudhomme. Pretty incredible. We are talking about access to public roads and the City takes no responsibility. »
