More on the protection of Chinatown
Radio-Canada and CBC are both reporting Monday on the plan to protect some of Chinatown (TVA too, and Le Devoir and Metro). It’s a pity nobody thought of this before the massive and damaging construction of the Guy‑Favreau building, but that’s ancient history now (constructed 1977-1983).
Meezly 14:42 on 2022-01-24 Permalink
Nor that huge eyesore Hampton Hotel.
Nor that other huge eyesore ONE Condominiums.
Max 15:17 on 2022-01-24 Permalink
Anybody else remember when bricks were falling off the Guy-Favreau building? I think it was in the late 1980s around when I came back to town from university. Every single one of those bricks had to be replaced, both inside and out, because of a manufacturing flaw. At least that’s what I read once.
DeWolf 00:26 on 2022-01-25 Permalink
One thing that hasn’t been discussed much is the huge vacant lot at the corner of St-Laurent and René-Lévesque. Amazingly it has been empty since the 1960s, and it has been owned by various dodgy characters over the years, but since 2020 it has been used for a pop-up space in the summertime with funding from the city.
Last summer was particularly wonderful as one of the mature trees that have grown in the vacant lot was turned into a Chinese-style wishing tree by Karen Tam, a local artist. It was such a nice space that I really think the city should buy it and make it into a permanent gathering space, with maybe a few small buildings on the edge of the lot. Whoever owns it now is paying an insane amount of money in taxes for nothing in return, so the city has some leverage in that regard. But I’m just dreaming.