Pointe-Claire could soon be rid of abandoned old strip mall

There is a renewed effort to demolish a long-abandoned strip mall in Pointe-Claire that has become an eyesore for residents.

The property's owners, the city, and residents have long hoped to get rid of the nearly 60-year-old strip mall at Donegani Ave. and Sources Blvd., which fell into decline in the 1990s and has been vacant for six years.

Those attempting to sell the property are pushing the city to make a zoning change in order to attract more developers.

Jim Parsons, a real estate broker for ReMax Royal Jordan, says the property's principal owner recently passed away, and the rest of the ownership group is keen to sell the property.

Parsons says the $3.7M listing, however, has so far only attracted proposals from developers looking to build larger complexes that would be a mix of residential and commercial units.

Parsons says so far, the City of Pointe-Claire has rejected those proposals, partly because the property is currently zoned commercial-only with a height limit. Parsons says those restrictions are why the property has remained untouched.

"There's a lot of that available here on the West Island, so it's just sat here stagnant," said Parsons.

Parsons says he'll push city officials to consider other zoning options at a meeting on Wednesday.

Tear it down

Pointe-Claire Mayor Morris Trudeau says he agrees that the old strip mall needs to be replaced.

"I'm anxious for it to be removed from where it is — demolished, in other words," said Trudeau.

Trudeau says he's already begun the process to obtain approval to demolish the current building, and he's waiting for what he calls an appropriate proposal to be made for the property's future use. He says, however, the city isn't necessarily against altering the zoning.

"If anyone has any plans to do something else that requires a change in zoning, they will have to come to us with their plans, and we will definitely look at it," said Trudeau.

Trudeau says the height limit may be tied to the airport's needs, and therefore be unchangeable.