Montreal's future schlock

Your "Brand land 2000" cover story [Feb. 24] ends with a quote from Pierre Bellerose of Tourisme Montréal to the effect that "Other cities have already been building these things for a couple of years. We must keep up."

This is exactly the kind of simplistic reasoning that leeches the character of our city right out. Never mind the fact that such landmarks as the Loews and Palace, the Montreal Forum, the American Tavern, Russell Books, etc. have to die for these mega-schemes, but none of them were even designed by or even asked for by Montrealers. Meanwhile, great projects for the Redpath Refinery, the site of the proposed Expos stadium, the Loews theatre and (several years ago) the empty Montreal Forum were all put forth by proud Montrealers working hard to shape the city in its own image. Instead, the city administration keeps handing these sites over to developers eager to shape the city in, say, Cleveland's image.

Montreal never gained any of its positive aspects by imitating other cities (I always thought that was Toronto's claim to fame). Make no mistake, Montreal stands to lose character, lose identity and eventually lose residents if it continues to hand its destiny over to these rich clowns.

We're not so poor that we have to fall for any passing millionaire's scheme. What's more, the Plateau, Mile-End, even St-Henri, are presently booming precisely because they're filled with very old, very unique to Montreal buildings and 'hoods. People love the old stuff, and if we had any sense we'd give 'em more of it. But noooo, we gotta tear it down and put up spaceships and condos instead.

I resent the way the Mirror presented these mega-dream schemes as "about to transform the Montreal landscape." That implies they're all ready to go, about to be built, coming soon to a theatre near you. But each and every one of these babies has to pass a few rounds of public hearings first--hearings which your readers could partake in, if they at least knew they existed. Making these very controversial developments seem like big, unstoppable dragons might make for an eye-catching story, but it doesn't make for very good truth. These projects will happen only if we let them, so unless you'd rather we not have a say in it, you should print the hows and whens of getting involved in all of this.

Likewise, the more sensible (and probably successful) alternatives to these projects will only happen if you at least mention they exist: the U of M proposal for the Expos site, the world-class soundstage proposal for the Loews, the lost opportunity to have a public rink and museum in the Forum, etc. Most of these don't have the same marketing as the Reichmann's, and the local papers are about all they could hope for for publicity.

You might also mention that there are two futures being planned for Montreal: one by concerned citizens trying in vain to make it better, and another by millionaire outsiders just trying to make a buck.

--Louis Rastelli

I think Disneyfication isn't such a bad idea for Montreal. Have you seen this place lately? It's depressing as hell. The city itself is beautiful, but the PQ have ruined it, and that idiot Bourque hasn't helped at all. This city is full of garbage everywhere and dirty needles infest our parks. Waiters and waitresses are always rude, and the food they serve is crappy and overpriced. And oh, let's not forget the incredibly high taxes we pay, for nothing.

So where's a good place to live? How about Boca Raton or Orlando, Florida? Wait a sec... hear me out!

First, the weather's better. People are nicer. Waiters and waitresses are friendlier, and the food is better too. Okay, so they don't have smoked meat or bagels--big deal. It's cheaper to live, the streets are cleaner. You are paid much more for the same jobs than up here, and you are not taxed to death on everything. And the best thing of all: in Florida, you don't have those goddamn PQ fascists telling me that I can't speak, think, read or write in the language of my choice.

Okay, so Florida's not for everybody--every place, everywhere, has its own unique problems. But this city is a dump. Thanks Bourque, thanks Parizeau, thanks Bouchard, thanks Beaudoin.

--Anonymous