Crees to build fanciful new building
The Globe & Mail reports that the Cree nation is funding the construction of a large, fanciful new building somewhere down Boulevard Robert-Bourassa (and not in a location most of us would call Old Montreal, despite the lede).
Francesco 11:12 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
It’s the old Cour de la voirie at the end of de la Commune, just across the street from Discreet Logic (AutoDesk Canada) and Ristorante Da Emma. I’d call that Vieux-Montréal, even if it’s also considered part of the meretricious “Cité du Multimédia.”
Max 12:23 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
It would seem to be on this lot, at the corner of Ottawa. If you go a couple of steps north on R-B you can see it’s been under development since last summer.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.4968393,-73.5572632,3a,75y,355.12h,101.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srrAPCF7Tv3pzwP9sdrjv5A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
Kate 12:38 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
So that Art Deco façade on that block was not considered worth saving? Thanks, Max.
Francesco, I guess I think of McGill Street as the western edge of Old Montreal proper. I always thought the “Cité du Multimédia” label was bogus (“meretricious” is such a good word!) but that section of town, King, Queen, Prince and Duke Streets, has a different vibe entirely.
Max 13:32 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
Prior to the Multimedia silliness the area around the Bonaventure north of the canal was called Faubourg des Recollets. It originally extended from McGill to Peel Street. After construction of the CNR viaduct split the neighbourhood in two, Griffintown effectively includes the area west of the viaduct and the name Faubourg des Recollets (sadly) fell out of common usage.
Here’s an interesting paper on the recent history of the area:
http://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/9387/1/Inedit10-05.pdf
DeWolf 13:50 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
You can follow the building’s development here:
https://forum.agoramtl.com/t/odea-26-etages/302
It’s being designed by Douglas Cardinal’s firm. He’s the Indigenous architect responsible for the Museum of History (formerly Museum of Civilization) among many other projects.
I agree with Kate – Old Montreal ends at McGill Street. As Max notes, this particular area is called the Faubourg des Récollets.
DeWolf 14:09 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
Also, I’m not entirely sure, but I think the demolished building on Robert-Bourassa was just a pseudo-historic façade slapped onto a modern building. There are a couple of actual historic buildings on Prince Street that are being preserved and incorporated into the project.
Francesco 15:12 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
Yeah there are pictures in *both* the local “urbanist” fora of that faux-façade as it was being levelled; it’s basically plaster mouldings.
Francesco 15:21 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
@Kate, I agree with the traditional boundaries, but as you astutely point out, Nazareth to King below Wellington don’t quite fit in with the Cité. Were it not for a string of contemporary condos from Queen to McGill disrupting the continuity of de la Commune’s patrimonial charm, we wouldn’t even bother discussing it.
Now, the next step is waiting for PJCCI to pull the trigger on the conversion of the remaining stretch of Bonaventure Expressway.
Max 15:27 on 2022-01-12 Permalink
277 Duke was a Jaguar dealership at some point. I guess that called for a certain amount of “gussying up” of the facade.
Last April’s Streetview shows that they’re conserving not just a facade but an entire section of a building on Prince.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.4968675,-73.557461,3a,15y,9.61h,92.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syOvRKJDFhscTU0eTFP9iIQ!2e0!5s20210401T000000!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en