Quartier Latin merchants demand compensation in face of more disruptive construction
City says closure is necessary to repair aging sewer system
After enduring months of major construction around the Berri-UQAM Metro station, merchants in Montreal's downtown Quartier Latin neighbourhood are slamming the city's decision to shut down the intersection of St-Denis and Ontario streets for at least two weeks of work.
They are demanding compensation to avoid business closures.
According to the city, the work is necessary beneath the intersection, the busiest in the district, to repair an aging sewer collector.
The rehabilitation of the Ontario collector, which dates back to the late 19th century, began several months ago west of St-Denis Street. The city states that this work is aimed at extending its useful life by 50 years. The rehabilitation project is expected to extend all the way to Atateken Street.
However, the Quartier Latin merchants' association, or SDC, argues that more warning is needed before the neighbourhood's most critical intersection is shut down. The SDC was informed late last week of the plan.
This closure will be detrimental to local traffic and to businesses in the area, which were just beginning to recover from the drop in foot traffic caused by the pandemic.
Revitalization efforts stymied, SDC says
The area saw a near 17 per cent increase in foot traffic in December 2024 compared to 2023, the SDC says. Despite continuous efforts to revitalize the Quartier Latin, this construction work risks slowing economic recovery, it adds.
"We are working hard to revitalize the neighbourhood, but the city is making our job harder with a lack of communication and support. It's time for a change," said Julien Vaillancourt Laliberté, the SDC's general manager.
The SDC members say businesses could face closure if not compensated.
"The SDC and its members demand that the city act consistently and transparently and implement financial compensation for businesses and restaurateurs affected by major construction projects," the SDC declared in a statement.
This recent project is one of several that have disrupted traffic in recent years.
In addition to the rehabilitation of the section of St-Denis Street between De Maisonneuve Boulevard and Ste-Catherine streets, completed in 2021, the Quartier Latin was subsequently disrupted for months by significant excavation work around the Berri-UQAM Metro station to waterproof the underground structure.
This is compounded by several building facade and construction projects related to the Université du Québec à Montréal.
City says it is working with merchants
The leader of Montreal's Official Opposition on city council, Aref Salem, accused Mayor Valérie Plante's administration of deliberately segmenting its construction projects in the Quartier Latin to prevent merchants from qualifying for financial assistance.
"It's always the same thing: wherever Projet Montréal is involved, there are problems," he said in a statement.
Robert Beaudry is responsible for urban planning on Plante's executive committee. In a statement, he said there is no joy in undertaking such construction projects, especially when they affect commercial areas.
"Given the advanced state of deterioration of the Ontario collector and its obsolescence, as well as to avoid further incidents like the geyser, this work is essential," says Beaudry, referring to the water main break that flooded streets near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge over the summer.
"Our teams remain in direct contact with all merchants to find solutions."
Beaudry said the Ontario and St-Denis closure is exceptional and unforeseen, as expanding the construction zone for access shafts was deemed necessary during the project.
"Even when emergency work arises in long-planned, large-scale projects, we expect our teams to communicate effectively and provide reasonable notice to all merchants and residents," the statement says.
"Minimizing the impact of construction projects is a priority for our administration and should be for everyone."
Written by Isaac Olson with files from Radio-Canada