Pointe-Claire approves demo of Mazda site, but not Brivia high-rise
“I’ve had many sleepless nights over this because it would change my life,” Pointe-Claire resident says of proposed Brivia project.
Author of the article:
John Meagher • Montreal Gazette
Publishing date:
Apr 21, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
Local residents protested against a proposed high-rise building at the former Mazda lot in Pointe-Claire last fall. Brivia Group wants to develop a high-density residential project after demolishing the former car dealership facility. PHOTO BY PIERRE OBENDRAUF /Montreal Gazette
Article content
A high-rise complex slated for development in Pointe-Claire has been put on hold by the city’s demolition committee.
While the committee approved the demolition of the former Mazda dealership site at 575 St-Jean Blvd., the committee did not approve the reutilization, or replacement, project. The decision effectively puts the brakes on the 200-plus-unit Groupe Brivia residential development for the time being.
City councillor Brent Cowan, head of the three-person demolition committee, said the city received 49 letters of opposition to the proposed 10-storey project near St. Jean and Hymus boulevards.
Because the public could not be present at last week’s meeting to address the committee in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, Cowan summarized the three main points of contention to the project the city had received from citizens: “At 10 storeys it is claimed the project as submitted is too high. At over 200 units, too dense. And, finally, there will be more traffic that could be properly and safely absorbed by the local streets.”
Article content
After the committee voted unanimously to reject the reutilization project, Cowan added his own take on the proposed high-rise. “I find that the scale of the proposed project is too great to harmoniously integrate into the surrounding neighbourhood. Middle ground has not yet been found.
“I thank Brivia for the patience with this year-long process as it has run its course,” he added. “I urge them to not give up on Pointe-Claire, but to amend their project and come back with a version that will happily occupy that middle ground that most of us will accept.”
Nickie Fournier, a local resident who is part of an ad hoc group of citizens opposed to the project, was pleased to see the project put on hold for now. But she vowed to continue to press the city to force Brivia to drastically reduce the scale of the project.
Article content
Fournier, whose backyard faces the Mazda site, said the high-rise project would infringe on her privacy.
“I’ve had many sleepless nights over this because it would change my life,” she said.
Asked what would be an acceptable type of residential project for the old Mazda site, Fournier said: “I’m really pushing for a townhouse like mine or two storeys. I don’t want anything higher because I will end up having people (looking) in my dining room, watching a movie with me and coming to bed with me. I’ll go from having one neighbour beside me to however many they’ll put there.”
Fournier, a former teacher, also strongly opposes the city’s master plan of creating a “downtown core” City Centre in the area of St-Jean and Highway 40. She said the city’s push for major development will be a key issue in next fall’s municipal election.
Article content
Brivia Group has proposed a high-end apartment complex at the corner of St-Jean Blvd. and Chaucer Ave. in Pointe-Claire. Brivia Group
Mayoralty candidate Tim Thomas also opposes the Brivia project in its current form. But he is also wary of the city’s decision to hold off approving a project that is unpopular with local residents during an election year.
“This is the same as what they did with the Pioneer and with Walton,” Thomas wrote on his Facebook page.
The developer’s original plan was to build 24 townhouses on Walton, but a grassroots group pushed back. Instead, single-family homes are now being constructed.
The old Pioneer bar, which closed its doors in 2018, was demolished last fall. The developer plans to erect 14 luxury condos and four commercial spaces on the Lakeshore Road site.
“My advice to the citizens involved in the fight against the Brivia project would be to learn the lessons of those past experiences. Stay vigilant, don’t let up and hold your elected representatives accountable. Before you re-elect them, they should have to tell you exactly what their idea of an appropriate middle ground is,” Thomas said.
Fournier said she plans to support Thomas in the upcoming municipal election.
In the meantime, she plans to continue putting pressure on the city. “We can’t let them get away with holding this until after the election . . . and just snow us.
“I’m going to keep pushing all summer,” she added.
