Vers 1925
Surnommé le faubourg à m’lasse, le quartier où se situe maintenant la tour de Radio-Canada comptait vers 1880 plus de 16 000 habitants. Ce dernier avait été surnommé ainsi en raison de la forte odeur de mélasse qui flottait dans l’air en raison du déchargement sur les quais de tonneaux contenant cette substance sucré.
En 1930, quelques années seulement après la prise de cette photographie, le quartier fut sectionné en 2 suite à la construction du pont Jacques-Cartier. Ainsi donc, plusieurs résidences et industries furent rasés. Cet évènement ne fut toutefois pas celui qui entraina le plus de démolitions dans le secteur.
C’est plutôt au cours des années 1950 et 1960, lors des nombreux travaux de réaménagement et de construction que le quartier connu un brusque déclin.
Plusieurs centaines de résidences furent démolies lors de l’élargissement du boulevard René-Lévesque, de l’aménagement de bretelles d’accès au pont, ainsi que pour permettre la construction de la tour de Radio-Canada.
En fait, plus de 5000 familles furent délogées de leur quartier dans les années 1960 suite aux projets d’éliminations des taudis. Le terrain aujourd’hui occupé par la tour de Radio-Canada et son vaste stationnement comportait autrefois : 778 logements, 12 épiceries, 13 restaurants, 8 garages, 4 imprimeries et 20 usines.
Bref, un quartier résidentiel complet est disparu entre les rues René-Lévesque et Notre-Dame. Il serait donc souhaitable que le projet de construction de logements annoncé plus tôt au cours de l’année sur le site de Radio-Canada voit le jour. Celui-ci permettrait probablement de redonner du dynamisme à ce secteur de la ville qui ne semble être aujourd’hui qu’un vaste terrain de stationnements.
8 comments
Ouin, ca risque de devenir un truc de tours a condos pour les riches. Donc, on est loin d’un quartier vivant et dynamique, en tout cas, pas pour tout le monde.
The prelim concept for the project is promising. Fairly low rise but dense. And it is architecturally sophisticated.
As for condos for the rich. Montreal ain’t rich compared to Manhattan and London, for contrast. In fact, most condos in downtown Montreal (except for certain projects) are well priced for the middle class, urban professional – exactly the kind of people who create vibrant communities when they are put in dense zones.
The main reason rental units do not get built in Montreal anymore (and this IS a big problem) and developers build condos instead is because of the highly regulated environment; it is not possible to make a rental apartment financially viable in the Quebec market. So instead of the private sector building rental units of varying price points, including the lower cost segment, the government has to step in and use tax payer money to build affordable housing. Though many renters don’t believe it, but Quebec laws are pro-tenant BY FAR. Even the smallest change like asking for cleaning or security deposits for rental units would make it more attractive to developers to build rentals.
Looks like an entirely different world without all the high rise buildings dominating the skyline.
Edward, I suppose you think poor people should just die.
But I have news for you – most poor people (unless they are very old, very young, or very ill) WORK! Cashiers at supermarkets. The people who work at Jean-Talon Market. Ill-paid immigrant workers around Chabanel and “le quartier des esclaves”… your nanny. And yes, artsy types like me!
I have nothing against developments of condos as long as they don’t expropriate poor tenants.
What will people do who can’t afford the deposit? That doesn’t just mean shiftless drug addicts – it can also include victims of domestic violence. I’ve worked in community associations enough to have seen many desperate people – good, hardworking people – who are much more to be pitied than your frigging landscum. (Nice landlords and landladies – I’m NOT referring to you. I know very ethical landlords/ladies).
I am quite offended by the opening tone of your comment. I think that is quite an inference you made about what I think about housing based on my comment about the real estate market and why condos only get built.
On the contrary, I totally agree with your point about expropriation. It shouldn’t happen. In fact, I lament the fact that the Ville Marie expressway and la Maison Radio Canada destroyed such a vibrant apart of Montreal. I am pro anything that makes the central city dynamic, bustling, 24 hour, and above-all, diverse. Oh, and that includes ALL socio-economic groups.
As a landlord, I can tell you that tenants can and are as equally deplorable as your so-called “landscum.” Many of my units over the years have been completely destoyed and left filthy when in fact, they rented them in immaculate condition. A cleaning/security deposit is a very basic requirement and can and will increase renters’ respect of property renters rent. The reality is, a lot of tenants have zero respect for property. And deposits are returned plus interest if the apartments are left as they were found. Security deposits also act as insurance against tenants who skip off without paying rents. There are two sides to every coin.
[…] I did manage to find on the history of Sainte-Marie), the CBC building (5000 families were move: https://spacing.ca/montreal/2008/09/24/le-faubourg-a-mlasse), the increase in traffic on Iberville and Papineau, the Notre-Dame parkway, […]
Franchement,
Plus de 2 000 condos ca va boucher la vue. C’est beaucoup trop. Et le trafic que cela va faire. Beau moyen de revitaliser le quartier. Je ne vois aucunement en quoi ca va revitaliser le quartier, D’ailleurs la rue René-Lévesque dans ce coin c’est le paradis des condos.
C’est dommage que la photo qui ouvre le site Spacing Mtl avec Faubourg à m’lasse, ne soit pas accessible. Pourquoi mentionner qu’il y a une photo si on ne peut la voir?