Bernard St. synagogue a hot potato

Outremont has made a pragmatic decision over a synagogue on Bernard Street, a deal that will revive a building not just for religious but also for commercial use. But some residents may still be up for a fight.

All of Montreal’s major commercial streets have some religious buildings, and it’s not a problem. Wellington Street has the massive Sept Douleurs at de l’Église. Mont-Royal has Très Saint Sacrement just east of the metro station, which occupies a whole block. Bernard Street already has a small Baptist church at the corner of Durocher. Ste-Catherine has St James United, Christ Church Cathedral and others. I could go on.

But this is the thing: a real city street is not a mall. Yes, there will be commercial frontages, but there will be other things – churches, schools, libraries, clinics, banks. Human beings don’t only shop. We do other stuff too. Outremont’s naysayers would do well to keep this in mind.