Concerned Dorval citizens outraged at possible demolition of convent annex

A erstwhile convent analyzable successful Dorval is now astatine nan bosom of a conflict betwixt nan metropolis and immoderate concerned citizens.

The City of Dorval bought nan 3 buildings connected Lake Saint Louis successful 2022 from nan sisters of nan congregation of Notre-Dame.

The full spot needs to beryllium renovated to beryllium up to today’s information standards, but nan metropolis intends to only usage 2 of them, nan chapel and nan adjacent house.

The metropolis voted successful April that it intends to demolish nan annex, which utilized to location 75 sisters.

“From an ratio constituent of view, we deliberation it is important to conscionable get free of it,” said Marc Doret, politician of Dorval. “Once we’ve done that, we tin bespeak connected what nan adjacent usage of this spot will be.”

Some concerned citizens deliberation it is unacceptable to demolish nan building successful a clip wherever lodging and societal resources are truthful scarce.

Dorval resident and advocator against nan demolition of nan annex, Rachelle Cournoyer, told Global News that, “If we look astatine nan tremendous societal request location is successful nan metropolis correct now for housing, to demolish a convent for illustration this, which could location 75 people, is unconscionable.”

Even though astir rooms do not person a backstage bathroom, Cournoyer thinks that successful times for illustration these, “there would beryllium takers.”

The metropolis says renovations costs are prohibitive. Doret said that nan building needs a sprinkler system, insulation, and that location are exposed metallic beams.

“We’re talking astir millions and millions of dollars,” he explained.

“It’s a 59-years-old building, of people it’s not up to code,” said Fernando Pellicer, a retired designer pinch a inheritance successful practice building restoration and Dorval resident.

“You don’t demolish that, different you would person to demolish half of nan metropolis of Montreal.”

Advocates consciousness that nan metropolis is not being transparent astir nan information of nan property.

“For example, nan architectural audit was released by nan city, only nan time aft nan metropolis passed nan intent to demolish,” claimed Cournoyer.

Dorval metropolis councillor Pascal Brault said successful assembly gathering connected July 15 that he voted against nan demolition because immoderate documents were missing.

Citizens besides judge that nan metropolis asked consultants to corroborate their bias that nan spot has nary practice value.

Through an entree to accusation request, citizens obtained a missive from architecture patient Lemay Michaud, which was hired to measure to practice worth of nan annex.

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In nan document, Lemay Michaud confirms to nan metropolis of Dorval that nan they “understand that nan instruction consists of 2 parts: confirmation of nan absence of architectural and practice worth of nan Annex (1965), and nan position of options for restoring nan destruction of nan building impacted by nan demolition of nan Annex.”

“I understand wherever they’re coming from,” responded Doret. “Was nan wording of nan solution for nan practice worth information nan champion imaginable wording? Probably not.”

The metropolis would for illustration to usage nan remaining 2 buildings for assembly meetings, different assembly activities, and perchance move 1 of them into a location for nan Dorval Historical Society.

Advocates opportunity that nan annex could go societal lodging for seniors, offices for societal services, a organization centre, and person galore much ideas.

They allege that nan metropolis wants to demolish nan annex because nan residents surviving adjacent do not want nan area to go excessively busy.

“There is astir apt benignant of a nimby reaction,” Cournoyer said.

The politician says they bought nan spot because it is 1 of nan fewer nationalist places pinch entree to nan lake. However, his management believes nan tract should stay peaceful, arsenic it is currently.

“Whatever we person present is going to person to spell on those lines. I don’t deliberation that having 15 aliases 20 aliases 30 cars parked successful nan parking batch present is really nan champion point for this property,” Doret explained.

Any demolition will person to await an information of nan building’s practice value. The City of Dorval does not cognize what would switch nan annex successful lawsuit it is demolished.