Build in a waterway, what do you get?

A condo building constructed in 2007 for the SHDM in an old watercourse has been flooded so often that it can no longer be insured against flood damage, so residents have to cope with the hassle themselves.

The interesting part here is that the address is on Parthenais in eastern Ville‑Marie, not on some remote West Island shoreline. The sewer system is old, the construction company declared bankruptcy and can’t be sued, and the city seems to have washed its hands of this building from before the era of the current administration.

Meantime the city is going to construct more parks and pavements that will act as sponges to soak up water from downpours. Perhaps it can make sure future building plans take into account the city’s natural geography, too.

Also meantime, Quebec’s donating $11 million to help nine francophone countries with climate change projects. Since, of course, it’s francophones who are deserving of largesse.

More on the 30 sponge parks and 400 sponge sidewalks being planned around town.