What to do with the Hôtel-Dieu grounds?
The Gazette has a brief bit of video inside the grounds of Hôtel-Dieu and a statement from Benoit Dorais about the city’s ownership of the site, and its quest to find some way to make it accessible but preserve it from damage. (Dorais is not so blunt, but it’s clear that’s an issue.)
I’m afraid the only way might be to have a charge to go inside: the closest equivalent is the botanical gardens, which if anything is now too expensive for a casual visit, but at least its fences and gates protect it from vandalism.
Which reminds me – speaking of green spaces in the Plateau – does anyone know about
a) what’s happened with the other religious site, the Carmelites, up near the tracks at St-Denis? Years ago there was talk about the city pushing back against seeing it turned into a private gated community, but I’ve seen nothing about it being opened to the public in a long time
b) the green space behind Notman House? It’s well fenced, and I had a peek inside it a couple of times this summer. Since it’s protected maybe the best thing is simply to allow it to be a small block of preserved forest for cooling the area in summertime, but I’ve seen no mention of it in the media for awhile.
fliflipoune 10:04 on 2019-10-04 Permalink
Le terrain des Carmélites est privé, et le gouvernement du Qc prend très au sérieux l’isolement du jardin par son status historique. Par exemple: l’édifice au coin Maguire/Henri-Julien a un mur sur sa terrasse pour éviter le regard vers le jardin (imposé par me ministère de la culture). La forme des balcons du nouveau projet de condos en construction sur Henri-Julien contient des écrans vers le jardin. Un nouveau projet est en développement sur le dernier terrain sur Henri-Julien, face au monastère, et il est actuellement dans les mains du ministère de la culture… Sa volumétrie sera très sûrement influencée par cette politique. À mon avis, ce jardin sera ouvert le jour où l’ordre religieux disparaîtra, pas avant.
JP 12:43 on 2019-10-04 Permalink
For the Botanical Gardens, I bought the Access Montreal card. You can enter the grounds (excluding the greenhouses) by showing your card. https://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=9397,112551576&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Kate 12:55 on 2019-10-04 Permalink
JP, I thought the card got you a reduced price, but you still had to pay. Really, it’s free?
I used to have a card, but it lapsed some time ago. Might be worth getting a new one if the gardens are free with it.
fliflipoune, merci pour les informations.
John B 13:34 on 2019-10-04 Permalink
I just went digging, and it’s buried near the bottom of this pdf: http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/CARTE_ACC_FR/MEDIA/DOCUMENTS/BROCHURE_CAM_2019_20_EN.PDF But yes, outdoor gardens are free with the card, except for the Lantern festival.
JP 13:35 on 2019-10-04 Permalink
The last time I went, earlier in the summer during June, there was no extra cost. It’s pretty much the only reason I got the card!
qatzelok 07:51 on 2019-10-05 Permalink
With the addition of that large green space to Jeanne-Mance Parc, there would be enough room to add a public swimming pool near the volleyball courts, and this would be very popular and take pressure off the Laurier, Jarry and Baldwin pools (the orange line pools are very congested on hot days).
Kate 08:24 on 2019-10-05 Permalink
The whole of Jeanne-Mance park and beyond, I’ve been told as far as Bernard, used to belong to the sisters, and was farmed by them, but I don’t think there are plans to remove the stone walls around the remaining Hôtel-Dieu gardens. There are fruit trees in there, and some fancy garden planting and herb gardens, also a tiny beautiful chapel. Stuff you don’t want to pave over casually even for a deserving purpose.