Housing Boom Transforming Our Neighbourhood
Allow me to share warm holiday greetings with all Pinoy Post readers and wish everyone all the best for 2012.
2011 has been a very successful year for the Union Montreal administration of Mayor Gerald Tremblay both at City Hall and in the Borough of Cote des Neiges – Notre Dame de Grace (CDN-NDG). Montreal’s economy is doing very well with construction cranes dotting the horizon everywhere. Indeed, Montreal has not seen this type of growth since the 1960s. The housing boom is very evident in CDN-NDG.
In the past year over 1000 people have moved to the Triangle district (formerly called Namur-Jean Talon). CDN-NDG Borough is also approving permits for 3200 more housing starts for this new neighbourhood which will add another 5000 plus residents by 2015.
To the north of the Triangle, near the de la Savane metro station, some 100 housing units are now in construction and the Borough is
examining an additional smaller version of the Triangle project to redevelop the potential of the area near the de la Savane metro.
Less than a kilometre to the south sits the former Armstrong Lock Company site. Now vacant, discussions are starting toward conversion of
this land with up to a possible 1000 new housing units.
Across Decarie Boulevard lies the Hippodrome site. The Government of Quebec has closed the racetrack, The Borough’s plans are for
redevelopment into housing. Negotiations are continuing. Ultimately this land could also see 5000 to 10,000 units built depending on eventual heights and densities determined through public consultations. Just these projects alone could add more than 25,000 people to Snowdon over the next ten years. Much of the new housing will be family housing.
The City of Montreal has budgeted more than $50 million for major infrastructure work for these new neighbourhoods for its 2013 – 2015 capital spending. The new housing acts as a hedge against urban sprawl by providing housing for families and seniors who want to stay in our neighbourhood while drawing many new residents formerly from Laval, the West Island, St. Laurent and elsewhere. These residents want to
be closer to downtown and appreciate the rapid access via the nearby Namur and De la Savane metro stations.
Borough Mayor Michael Applebaum also informs me that there is a potentially large housing projects in southern NDG near the site of the new McGill superhospital.
Many of the new residents in Snowdon and NDG will be seeking admission to English language public schools. Pinoy Post readers may be aware that Mayor Applebaum and the Councillors of CDN-NDG oppose the proposal of the English Montreal School Board
(EMSB) to move Royal Vale High School from NDG to the City of Cote Saint Luc.
Royal Vale is a real success story and moving it makes little sense particularly as the bulk of its students live close by. The Councillors ask where does the EMSB want these students to study ? There are no plans at the moment to build new English schools in the neighbourhood and moving schools only aggravates the situation. We urge the community to support the campaign to keep Royal Vale just where it is in signing the online petition at http://saveroyalvale.com/ and clicking on the Sign Petition button.
Looking back on 2011 I am proud of the partnership between the Borough and the organizations representing the Filipino community in CDN-NDG. The Borough provided financial support for Pista Sa Nayon and Philippines Independence Day. Grants were provided to FAMAS
for its youth program and various social activities. The Borough provided money for basketball helping PBAM and Marquis keep hundreds of kids active. The Fil Can Chess and Social Club received funding to buy chess sets and host a tournament. Grants were given to organizations such as Pamana ng Luzviminda, the United Pilipino Seniors and Bicol Association, among others.
A very special event this year was the celebration at the monument at Mackenzie King Park of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Jose Rizal. Mayor Applebaum and I were honoured to be able to address those present at this event hosted by the Knights of Rizal and Ladies of Rizal Montreal Chapter on this special occasion which was so poignant to the Filipino community. The Borough was able to provide financial support for this event.
2011 was a special year for Union Montreal as well. We celebrated both our 10th anniversary as a party and as the municipal administration of Montreal. On November 5 the party held a Congress to begin discussions toward updating our program for the 2013 election. A large delegation from CDN-NDG was present offering a series of important resolutions which were all accepted by the Congress.
A dozen of the CDN-NDG delegates were from our neighbourhood’s Filipino community and they were very clear as to why Union Montreal is their party. These delegates indicated that Union Montreal is the voice of those who believe in a welcoming, tolerant and multicultural Montreal. Indeed, Mayor Tremblay has always made the building of a diverse city offering opportunity to all the guiding principle for our administration. Seeing the harmony and cooperation of the nearly 600 delegates present representing persons of so many ethnicities and cultures was an
excellent example of what we can accomplish together.
On a sadder note, I’d like to say how saddened I was by the untimely passing in November of Alberto Floresca, a man who gave so much of himself to serve the community. Albert was a long time constituent of mine and I know how devoted he was to assuring the success of the Filipino community in our city. He gave generously of his time and effort and he will be missed by many.
