NIMBY spikes project of 525 units
Twenty-six Nuns Island residents have managed to block a project that would have included 525 residential units near the REM.
If we’re going to forge ahead and build enough housing, maybe we should begin by restructuring local referendum laws so that NIMBY residents can’t do this.
In a way, this is a microcosm of people who, comfortable in their country of residence after immigrating, or since their ancestors immigrated, are now insistent that nobody else should have the same access.
Joey 12:33 on 2025-05-26 Permalink
Or professional associations artificially rationing access to work.
What’s crushingly disappointing is the extent to which Projet Montreal – despite the province empowering them *for once* to act – is bending over backwards not to upset a small group of NIMBYs in the midst of a generational housing crisis. What’s especially grating about this is how often the Projet leadership has had no problem telling all kinds of stakeholder groups to F off (even – especially! – those who are generally PM supporters and are actively trying to collaborate). Yet they completely roll over for a handful of NIMBYs.
jeather 13:07 on 2025-05-26 Permalink
I’m not pro NIMBYism and I think they should push this through but we just had an article about how Quebec won’t build the needed schools on Nun’s Island, so the residents aren’t wrong about the problem of building housing without related infrastructure.
Joey 14:30 on 2025-05-26 Permalink
Does anyone honestly believe that the same folks opposing the project (“Ce projet est laid et indigne de la classe de l’île des Sœurs,” said the guy who is worried about travel time to and from Montreal) would be OK with it if there were adequate daycare/school spots?
jeather 15:14 on 2025-05-26 Permalink
No, but they’re still not wrong about the inadequate infrastructure (the REM is nice in theory but who can depend on it now).
DeWolf 16:01 on 2025-05-26 Permalink
This project will likely end up being built in some form or another. All the developer has to do is re-apply and the city can use its new powers to bypass any attempt at a referendum. As the article explains, elected officials did not want to use that power in this case because the project was submitted for approval before Quebec changed the laws to make the new municipal powers available.
Ephraim 21:02 on 2025-05-26 Permalink
Maybe we should put a cost related to NIMBYism. You want to oppose the project, it will cost those people the reimburse the promoter for their costs. There is nothing in the law that says you get to oppose a project for free. Put up a cost and maybe they will have to really have a good reason.