Hélène-de-Champlain: millions still to be spent

A report from the secretive group that administers Jean-Drapeau park estimates it will take another $14 million to make the Hélène-de-Champlain building usable again – but for what? There’s no planned use or need for the building, which the article calls “patrimonial” though it only dates from 1937.

I’m going to be radical here. The city has spent millions already and is stuck in a sunk cost fallacy. Any form of site operation will mean ongoing maintenance costs and extensive parking space too. Demolish it! Bad planning has already led to loss of trees and green space on the island. Take the thing down and re-green the footprint to offset that damage!

In another news story, the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau seems to be kvetching that city financial inspectors are keeping a close eye on their affairs. I wonder why.