Place des Nations refit cost has doubled
The city has been planning to redo Place des Nations, once a core feature of Expo 67 but long since left in the oubliette. Now the projected cost has nearly doubled since the project was first proposed, but city hall is intent on proceeding.
I took the photo above ten years ago, when mooching around the islands. Officially Place des Nations was not accessible but it wasn’t hard to get inside. At that point, while the concrete was weathered, it had not yet started to crumble, but the overhanging seating blocks would clearly not hold forever, and it would only be a matter of time before somebody exploring the space got brained with a piece of loose masonry. The site needs to be either refurbished or dismantled.
Blork 12:37 on 2021-03-20 Permalink
When has the cost of a city (or provincial) project NOT doubled from the original proposal? Although usually they wait until they’ve crossed the Rubicon before they announce it. Which means in this case it will double again after they get started.
Kate 13:34 on 2021-03-20 Permalink
It always takes time between the initial mention of a project and the second mention, sometimes years. In that time, inflation both of scope and of the economy always have that effect, and – as you say – further delays and discoveries made in the course of the work inflate the price tag even more. I don’t even think it’s corruption, it’s just human nature.
It’s not clear to me what they want this space for. It was used (as shown in my first link above) for rather lavish official ceremonies of a diplomatic type, celebrating national days of participating countries and things like that. It’s not very useful for at least half the year, although the same could be said of the Théâtre de la Verdure in Lafontaine Park, I suppose, and the main festival stage in Jean-Drapeau park.
Raymond Lutz 21:40 on 2021-03-20 Permalink
This place always reminds me of some Aztec temple or ōllamalitzli field…
Kate 09:30 on 2021-03-21 Permalink
It is a bit like that. All it needs is an altar in the middle for the sacrifices.