I noticed recently that a new condo conversion project is about to get underway a couple of blocks from my house. Named nothing less than Les ParisLofts du Plateau, it’s just off St-Laurent at Rachel. Normally this would be the cause for some teeth-gnashing in a city like Montreal, where people honestly (and not so honestly, frankly, from time to time) cherish their authenticity like few other places I’ve been.
In this case, though, it’s totally good news. ParisLofts is named after Paris-Star, the textile and clothing manufacturer that is now located at the site. Currently the building is butt-ugly, and it has been the scene of many pollution and general neighbourhood degradation stories for years. They installed a filter of some sort several years ago – but removing the factory is several orders of magnitude better news for the ‘hood, I think.
[Full disclosure – if you look at this picture of the proposed view, the large tree on the far left of the photo is in my backyard, and the little sliver of white-ish facade between trees is my neighbour’s place.]
Patrick says
Which means I could almost see your house from my window at my last job! Who knew!
So you live there and you don’t manage to make it to yulblog 2 blocks away anymore? Shame, shame. ;)
Michael says
I can’t make it often because Nadia has a class so I stay home and make dinner for us and make sure the dogs are fed and walked and such. Before that I had my own class I was teaching…
But between Ed, Aaron, and I (plus David and Heather, who are no longer in Montreal) we have founder’s status for YULBlog, so I really *should* try and get out there once in a while.
blork says
But Mikel, doesn’t that project mean that a few hundred garment workers are now out of a job?
(Rattle rattle…)
Martine says
And on the picture, if you look to the Olympic Stadium, and then way over to the right, you can see our house…