Consultation

 

 

Right from the start, the Société du Havre has sought reactions, comments and suggestions from the many players involved in the future of the harbourfront. The formal consultation process in November and December 2003 was a crucial step, as the culmination of its reflections, and the Corporation made every effort in the fall of 2003 to guarantee the success of that process. After analyzing the situation and identifying the main development issues for the harbourfront, in conjunction with sector working groups and the many stakeholders it consulted, the Corporation wanted to seek input from the different communities concerned on the potential solutions that had emerged from its analysis. This step was the cornerstone of a project which, it was hoped, would bring the different players together and represent the interests of all parties involved.

A first draft of the master development plan was presented and discussed at these meetings, so that the report, to be produced by the end of the first quarter of 2004, would reflect all viewpoints concerning the development and redevelopment of the harbourfront.

Workshops

The consultation meetings took the form of workshops bringing together representatives of each of the following four target groups:

• economic community;
• university community;
• local residents, community groups and merchants;
• heritage, environment and culture interest groups.

The Société du Havre was looking to address all viewpoints and concerns. Each group made a highly significant contribution, far exceeding its own specific sphere of interest. In the end, there was much greater agreement than disagreement in all the viewpoints expressed. In fact, a true consensus formed around the main discussion themes, dealing with development issues and possible solutions.

Concerns expressed

The Harbourfront as a residential area

• the need to maintain and improve the quality of life for current and future residents;
• to ensure access to affordable housing and jobs, keeping principles of inclusiveness and maintaining a social mix in mind;
• warnings against the risks of "gentrification" associated with residential development, particularly in Pointe-Saint-Charles;
• the need to strike a fair balance between economic, residential, recreational and industrial development that will contribute to a quality living environment.

A recreational and tourism pole

• importance of balance and harmony between recreational and tourism development and other local activities;
• importance of exploring the potential for winter activities to ensure year-round activities so as to encourage the economic, social and cultural vitality of the harbourfront;
• need for an impact study on the potential creation of a trade fair centre in the harbourfront (traffic, land reclassification, job creation, etc.).

Access to the River and banks and the green network

• importance of the River as a resource, the quality of its water and banks, shipping and port operations, and boating and aquatic activities;
• need to ensure the public character and physical and visual accessibility to the banks and heritage assets, calling for the redevelopment of infrastructures isolating the harbourfront and cutting Old Montréal and the Old Port in half;
• priority to be given to technically and economically realistic solutions founded on sustainable development principles;
• a consensus: Give the St. Lawrence back to Montrealers.

Highway axes

• an aspect of the development plan that needs to be documented more thoroughly through impact and feasibility studies;
• a question that involves other levels of jurisdiction and action;
• warnings about the impact of redeveloping the highway network and relocating the Bonaventure Expressway, i.e. shifting the expressway doesn't shift the problem;
• a consensus around the desirability of public transit, reducing automobile traffic and improving the local road network.

Management of contaminated soil

• an issue that raises both environmental and economic concerns;
• raises many questions about risks and impact, treatment and funding;
• an initiative to be viewed from a sustainable development perspective.

Heritage conservation and protection

• a potential solution that emerged during the consultation process;
• developing heritage assets mainly through cultural initiatives;
• Elevator No. 5, the heritage value seen as extending to the function of the site or building.

Key values identified

• Social mix
• Inclusiveness
• Sustainable development
• Participation
• Heritage protection

Conclusion

The consultation process allowed the Société du Havre to find out Montrealers' concerns about and hopes for the future of the harbourfront. It also helped define the areas for action to be given priority and the vision to be promoted. This vision became clear as the consultation process advanced: bring the city and its river closer together, remind Montrealers that Montréal is an island.

With a potential of close to 10,000 new dwellings, housing turned out to be a priority area for development, one that would bring definite benefits. This is why it is essential to ensure that the various uses and functions in the harbourfront area fit well together, taking into account the impact of development projects on residents' quality of life. The message is clear: the harbourfront must not be developed at the expense of the people who live there - on the contrary.

Taking this same point of view, the groups consulted came out in favour of recreational and tourism development, provided it benefits Montrealers first. One of the chief attractions of Montréal is Montrealers themselves. That is why the harbourfront should be a bustling place all year long, thanks to and for the benefit of the people who live here.

The scale of the harbourfront's development potential and the diversity of the interests at stake must not cause the overall vision to get lost along the way. The guiding principle must be this: ensure project coherence, the right balance and the harmonious coexistence of different functions and uses within the harbourfront area.

The detailed reports on the consultation meetings will be appended to the Report of the Société du Havre, to be made available on the site once it is submitted, in the second quarter of 2004.