Wrecking broke

Forget about the City of Montreal building any new housing projects. It's so broke, it can't even afford to demolish the old ones.

According to MCM city councillor Richard Théorêt, 10 barricaded buildings are currently slated for demolition by the city, but all activities are on hold due to lack of funds.

Once a building is condemned, the responsibility for demolition falls first on the landlord. Many are left standing--barely--for years before the city is forced to take them down. "The city doesn't get involved until it's really, really bad," Théorêt says. In previous cases, buildings have leaned ominously over sidewalks for months prior to demolition.

Théorêt says the buildings are proof positive that the city's debt is paralyzing the Bourque administration. "Everything's blocked and the system is jammed because they don't have the money to proceed with anything."
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