Valois Village desperate for facelift, business owners say
Pointe-Claire says project cannot take up all public funds to ensure early completion
Pointe-Claire wants to revitalize its aging shopping spot, Valois Village, but business owners are disappointed that the plan could take up to 15 years to complete.
They say the sidewalk has deteriorated to the point that cracks have turned into holes. And graffiti is more than just painted on windows, it's scratched into the glass as well.
"Who wants to go somewhere where there's holes in the ground and graffiti?" Bassily said.
"No one wants to go there. No one wants to bring their families there. They want to go somewhere where it looks nice."
The owner of Pilates Fusion, Katherine Murray, thinks the city should invest in greenery.
"There's still a little charm but it could be nicer," Murray said. "It can be old but nice. Right now it's old, but not that nice."
Pointe-Claire Mayor Morris Trudeau said the city can't dedicate all its funds to Valois Village and that work will take 10 to 15 years.
"We can't neglect the rest of our city," Trudeau said. "We have many obligations and we have to carry them out over a long-term basis."
The city held a public forum on what to do in the area and has hired a company to look into recommendations and draft a plan.