Even though a report released last week identified a long list of challenges facing Pointe-Claire Village, the city’s mayor says he is optimistic about the future of the historic village.
“The Village is a very special place, and always has been,” said Morris Trudeau. “It will be in the future as well.”
The Pointe-Claire mayor was commenting on the Pointe-Claire Village Diagnosis, a 21-page urban planning report assessing the Village’s strengths and weaknesses with an eye to revitalization.
The report carried out by Convercité, a private consulting firm mandated by the city, was completed and publicly released last week.
More than 100 residents, merchants and other Village stakeholders turned out April 28 for a presentation on the report’s findings at Paroisse St. Joachim, the Catholic Church on the Village’s point.
When the city of Pointe-Claire drafted and approved its master urban plan in 2010, Pointe-Claire Village was purposely left out.
The thinking of city officials was that the 300-year-old village, already considered the heart of the city, needed its own master plan to help it navigate the 21st century, especially given its heritage buildings.
Among the report’s findings: A 13-per-cent commercial vacancy rate is holding the Village back.
Parking restrictions are a barrier to new businesses. Underutilized buildings and an empty lot at Cartier Ave. and Bord du Lac add to the Village malaise.
Cartier Ave. is not being fully utilized as a gateway to the Village from Highway 20.
Signage is poor to non-existent, bike paths do not run continuously and sidewalks end abruptly. In an interview on Monday, Trudeau said the findings will help the city when it drafts land use and development initiatives for the Village.
“It’s going to be a great assistance to us whatever we do,” he added.
The diagnostic report is only the first phase of that Village Vision project, said Trudeau.
The next step will be to implement a Special Planning Program (SPP) that will form the framework in which corrective measures – some short-term, others medium-term and still others long-term – will be implemented.
Trudeau said city council will put forward a motion “shortly” that will tender a second contract by which the city will hire a consulting firm – possibly, but not necessarily Convercité – to produce a second study by early 2015 on what the city can do to address the identified problems.
ccornacchia@montrealgazette.com Twitter: cornacchiaGAZ
Diagnosis details
Among the strengths and weaknesses identified in the Pointe-Claire Village Diagnosis, the 21-page report prepared by Convercité, a private consulting firm hired by the city:
STRENGTHS
Public access to Lac St-Louis waterfront
Rich heritage site that includes historic windmill, the convent building of Congrégation de Notre Dame, the church of Paroisse St. Joachim and the Maison Antoine Pilon among other historic houses.
Vacant and underused buildings that could be repurposed as new housing units and commercial space.
Public transit service between Village and downtown.
Connected to Highway 20 via
Cartier Ave. Public parking.
Connected to Route Verte cycling path.
WEAKNESSES
Obstacles to establishing new restaurants and other businesses.
13 per cent commercial vacancy rate.
Underdevelopment of Cartier Ave., main gateway to the Village.
Poor signage identifying Pointe-Claire Village, including on Highway 20.
Poor link between Alexandre-Bourgeau Park on the waterfront and businesses on the Village mainstreet.
Sidewalks are old, narrow and in some cases stop abruptly.
Buffer zone between Village residents and commercial establishments weak in spots.
For the full report go to ville.pointeclaire.qc.ca/visionvillage.
ccornacchia@montrealgazette.com
Twitter: cornacchiaGAZ