Place Émilie-Gamelin: an area in ruins
The announcement of the closure of Archambault’s original flagship store has sparked a piece by Philippe Teisceira‑Lessard on the decrepitude of the environs of Place Émilie-Gamelin.
As I recall, developers had bought out the whole block shown in the photo at the top of the story. Amir, Da Giovanni, L’Escalier, they didn’t go away because the neighbourhood turned bad. They were pushed out. And now the pandemic plus the sheltering of homeless folks in the hotel has made that block an unpropitious setting for a new condo building.
How long did it take between the ruin of the Seville and the construction of a new building, between the demolition of the Spectrum and a new project on that corner?
Update to add: Radio-Canada has a piece that’s an echo of La Presse’s on the situation around Place Émilie‑Gamelin.
shawn 22:58 on 2023-01-27 Permalink
Well, the demolition of the Spectrum and the new project took a long time because Equipe Spectra’s original project for that block fell through. They ended up selling the land to the Maestria condo developer, I guess. But that’s just a side note. I didn’t know all those merchants by Archambault were pushed out!
JaneyB 17:16 on 2023-01-28 Permalink
I loved L’Escalier and Utopik before it. Any news on a re-opening of that place in another locale? I know UQAM was key to its atmosphere but maybe just maybe…
LJ 21:13 on 2023-01-28 Permalink
Much of the activity at the old L’Escalier has moved on to La Petite Marche, on St Denis a bit north of St Joseph.
Kate 12:08 on 2023-01-29 Permalink
It’s true, La Petite Marche has a full schedule of live music.