Demolition derby

>>

by GEORGE MADDUX

Yves Chartrand isn't sure, but he believes that it was most likely a manual labourer from the old quarry at Laurier Park who first lived in the little red-brick house at 4848 de la Roche when it was built a century ago. But he knows that it has housed its last resident, because last month the City of Montreal granted permission to demolish the structure and replace it with three new condos.

Developers are getting around a prohibition on condo conversions by simply applying for demolition permits, says Chartrand, of l'Association des résidents de Plateau Mont-Royal. The group is still in court battling against a planned supermarket at Rivard and St-Denis that has already seen similar buildings demolished. "There's an old garage at de la Roche and Mont-Royal, another house on Chambord, and outdoubtedly many others where the owner has the same intention to demolish," says Chartrand. "People from the neighbourhood say that they're getting three calls a day from people offering to buy their homes, which aren't even for sale.

"It's very easy with Mayor Bouque now. Just tell the Vision Party that you want to knock something down and replace it with something that'll pay more taxes to the city and they'll agree," says Chartrand. "They don't care about the development, history and the culture of the area. It's all being accelerated. We ask if we still have a place here."

Last week the group held a modest ceremony to say goodbye to the little red house. Those who missed it can help the cause of preserving the Plateau by calling 529-6937.

more news...