Mercier-Est - Urban Renewal

Urban Renewal

During the 2002 Montreal Summit, the municipal government put territorial plan-based action to fight poverty. The approach focused on urban revitalization as well as more integrated development. Mercier-Est, consequently, has received attention. The changing dynamic of its social fabric is troubling. There is a constant aging of the population and is being replaced by individual renters as the neighborhood is unattractive for young families. Over the years there has been a steady increase in the number of single-parent families, the majority headed by women. Low-income households are pervasive and rising, making it difficult for the neighborhood to go through any 'natural' revitalization. Subsequently, the government has taken action with two notable development projects. The first addresses the need for economic revitalization in the area while the second addresses the housing issue for low-income Montrealers. RUI Plan
In December 2005, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve proposed Mercier-est as a candidate for Urban renewal projects already underway in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and other neighbourhoods in the Sud-Ouest burrough The outcome was the proposed RUI-Mercier-est project. RUI, short for 'Revitilization Urbaine Integree' or 'Integrated Urban Renewal' targets the south portion of the neighborhood under Hochelaga street. The project noted worrying trends about the neighborhood in general. Problematic areas included a continuously aging population, increased construction of smaller dwellings, family exodus, increased number of single occupancy and a growing low-income population well under the Montreal average. However, this is not to take away from its advantages which could be conducive to effective revitalization: large number of parks, increased use in public transportation and commercial axes at the heart of the district. The project wishes to address the barriers connecting Mercier-Est to the west (notably Mercier-Ouest). The southern portion of the neighborhood is 'locked-in' by the Autoroute 25 to the west, heavy industrial sectors to the east and the St.Lawrence river to the South. The northern portionof Mercier-Est is better connected to services and commercial centers, so the RUI plan wishes to supplement a north-south transportation within the district. The train tracks, just south of Hochelaga street on Souligny provide another barrier to this north-south axis. Contrecoeur Housing Project
Contrecoeur is an empty 38 hectare field at the northeastern limit of Mercier-Est. It is bordered by Anjou to the north and Montreal's oil refineries to the east. It has been abandoned since the 1950s, but Montreal has given a construction mandate to SHDM and SDM to construct 1700 housing units, 63% of which are social and affordable housing (39% affordable, 24% social). In addition, there will be land used as a commercial site for small businesses and offices. Construction will commence in 2008 to include 443 single family homes, 102 of which are single-detached (in the northern section bordering Anjou) and the remaining a combination of attached and row housing. 656 affordable-plex units will be built between Rousseau and de Grosbois street as well as an additional 407 social housing units dispersed across the site south of Rousseau street and heavily concentrated around de Grosbois street and Sherbrooke street. There will also be 177 private apartment units for retired seniors just north of Sherbrooke street. With an area of 0.38 square kilometers and the arrival of 4000-5000 inhabitants, the project's density will vary between 10526 and 13157 inhabitants per square kilometer. 1271 units will be built south of Rousseau street while the remaining 413 units will be found north of Rousseau. The project's progressive density heading south towards Sherbrooke street together with the increased concentration of social housing may have detrimental effects on crime, poverty and social harmony. Residents have complained about this proposal, citing the high density and height of the proposed structures as unacceptable. However, the project's main worry is ensuring a sane cohabitation with the heavy industry located just east of the project.

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Famous quotes related to urban renewal:

    I have misplaced the Van Allen belt
    the sewers and the drainage,
    the urban renewal and the suburban centers.
    I have forgotten the names of the literary critics.
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)