{"id":6088,"date":"2010-03-31T07:30:57","date_gmt":"2010-03-31T12:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingmontreal.ca\/?p=6088"},"modified":"2013-01-21T11:36:48","modified_gmt":"2013-01-21T16:36:48","slug":"reimaginons-la-rue-st-viateur-part-5-un-appel-lance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/montreal\/2010\/03\/31\/reimaginons-la-rue-st-viateur-part-5-un-appel-lance\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u00e9imaginons la rue St-Viateur, part 5 : Un appel lanc\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Shop
\n\u00ab 6 000 miles of streets which are really the front yards and the front doors where New Yorkers come out to play. \u00bb
\n– Janette Sadik-Khan<\/em><\/p>\n

And they came from all walks of life, espoused all points of view, yet remained united for one cause.
\nThey had grown tired of watching their street, their home, their front and back yard, be taken over by cars, trucks, noise, and pollution.
\nThey were going to put an end to it, starting today.
\n
\nThis is what brought them together:<\/strong>
\nA caf\u00e9 citoyen, sponsored by Car Free Mile-End<\/a> and the Comit\u00e9 des citoyens du Mile-End<\/a>; their thoughts on Saint-Viateur shared in the crowded back room of a local caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

Markets and festivals and woonerf<\/a> (gesundheit!):<\/strong>
\nThe crowd cast anxious<\/em> glances amongst themselves, towards the presenters and through the giant panes of glass separating them from the object of their affection.<\/p>\n

Anxious<\/em>, because they know Saint-Viateur\u2019s time is now.<\/p>\n

\u00ab Why are we having this meeting inside here \u00bb, someone exclaimed. \u00ab We should be having it outside on the street; on OUR street. \u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab Amen \u00bb, said the older gentlemen beside me. Amen indeed.<\/em><\/p>\n

For the<\/a> past<\/a> 4<\/a> weeks<\/a>, I have been reimagining Saint-Viateur and trying to see what can be done to make just one street a little better for its people.<\/p>\n

Yes, I know:
\nThere are so many other streets in Montr\u00e9al that are actually in dire straits. If only they could be more<\/em> like Saint-Viateur.<\/p>\n

So why spend 4 weeks talking about some hipper-than-thou<\/em> hangout in the Mile-End?
\n<\/strong>
\nBecause Saint-Viateur is lucky<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Lucky<\/em> because it is small enough that any changes to the streetscape would avoid attracting the concerns of citizens from outside the community itself.
\nLucky<\/em> because it is one of the last in a series of streets in the area due for renovations.
\nLucky<\/em> because it is loved and is considered part of the community\u2019s family; a family that will defend its well-being to the death.
\nLucky<\/em> because it is under the jurisdiction of one of the few Montr\u00e9al boroughs whose council seems open to rethinking our outdated culture of urban planning.
\nLucky<\/em> because it is a part of my life.<\/p>\n

And lucky<\/em> because all of the above factors make it the perfect prototype for change. If we can rethink Saint-Viateur, then maybe the same will be done for Parc, for Jean-Talon, for D\u00e9carie, for Henri-Bourassa, for Ren\u00e9-L\u00e9vesque …<\/p>\n

The car is our maid and yet we treat it like our king. If you want this to change, make it happen.
\nR\u00e9imaginons Chabanel<\/a>
\nR\u00e9imaginons Notre-Dame<\/a>
\nR\u00e9imaginons Saint-Laurent<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\"Boulevard<\/a>
\nReplace traffic space with human space?!
\nMais on n\u2019est pas en Europe. On est \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al !<\/em><\/p>\n

Denounce the propaganda.<\/strong> It\u2019s time we reprogrammed our minds:<\/p>\n

I reject the idea that only the Europeans, with their fine wine<\/a> and their high art<\/a>, are capable at creating better living spaces for their citizens. I dispute the notion that the European city model, where the car takes a modest place in the urban landscape, can never be achieved here in Canada.<\/p>\n

I recognise our differences in culture, habits, and customs. I accept our contrasts in density, architecture, and design. But past this superficial diversity, we are all just human beings \u2013 one in the same. When the sun is shining and the weather is sweet, we are all outside, in the streets, in our public spaces, searching to fraternise and longing for social interaction.<\/p>\n

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