Black Rock memorial plans posted
I’ve been sent this link to Lemay’s plans for the Black Rock memorial site. I find it all rather conceptual and colourless, rather like the kitchens in recent condo designs.
But how far are they moving the Rock? That isn’t even mentioned, and it’s the only question I want answered.
GC 11:55 on 2025-04-24 Permalink
I was also curious about that. From https://montrealirishmonument.com/:
“Construction on the park will begin in 2027 once the Hydro-Quebec sub-station is completed (2024) and the Ville de Montreal redirects Bridge Street and repurposes la rue des Irlandais (2027).”
Does that mean the road is moving and the park will just be built around the existing location of the Rock?
MarcG 12:24 on 2025-04-24 Permalink
Based on that overhead mockup it looks like they wouldn’t have to move it at all. My crappy visualization.
Kate 13:10 on 2025-04-24 Permalink
Thanks, Marc G.
It would be nice if the PR stuff could make that clear.
I don’t know that I have close relatives under the Rock and I don’t even know whether anyone has a list of those presumably buried there. But it’s likely. So I do feel something about not having the dead dug up a lot as they create this site.
Blork 13:11 on 2025-04-24 Permalink
I think MarcG is right; they won’t move the rock, they’ll relocated the road.
I like the design from what I can see of it. Those renderings always look a bit cold and spartan, but it has some interesting lines and the curved walls look both visually interesting and practical for cutting down on the traffic sounds.
Kate 13:20 on 2025-04-24 Permalink
At least there isn’t a breakfast bar.
GC 14:01 on 2025-04-24 Permalink
It seemed unlikely that the train tracks would be moved, so it is kind of boxed in on one side.
I was waiting for you to say that, Kate 😛
Annette 01:02 on 2025-04-25 Permalink
Great if the rock stays put, but when/why did the wrought iron shamrock fence get removed? It was some quality metalwork, and marked the memorial off from its surroundings quite well.
MarcG 08:08 on 2025-04-25 Permalink
Annette: Based on Google street view images it was removed between 2009 and 2012.
It’s amazing how much cities can change. The big empty lot east of the rock used to be the Goose Village neighbourhood, then the Autostade was there in the 60s and 70s (you can see the rock on the south side of the stadium in the photo). Fun rabbithole fact: the stadium was designed to be easily movable so most of it is still being used for amateur baseball in Thetford Mines.
Annette 00:46 on 2025-04-26 Permalink
Thanks, MarcG.
teeowe 12:55 on 2025-04-26 Permalink
Maybe irrelevant to this conversation but I saw Pink Floyd there (Autostade) in 1975 – if I remember it, does it mean I wasn’t there – ?