City improves plex appeal

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by George Maddux

The City of Montreal has announced that it will dole out up to $8,000 to anybody who buys and moves into a multi-unit apartment building in certain designated neighbourhoods within the next two years. According to Housing department rep Danielle Dionne, the city wants to improve the quality of life in these areas by increasing the level of owner occupancy, which currently falls short of the 69 per cent city average. Owners in residence, with its accompanying spectre of neurotically house-proud residents, make for a good neighbourhood--a notion Dionne says is supported by "many studies." The grants range from $3,000 for a duplex to $8,000 for a four- or fiveplex. "The social tissue needs help a bit. We think increasing owner occupancy will help improve the quality of life there," she says.

The subsidy is aimed at lower-cost, pre-1991 constructions. Duplexes must cost no more than $135,000, triplexes less than $185,000, fourplexes under $190,000 and a fiveplex must come in under $205,000. The eligible areas include homes below Sherbrooke between Bleury and Pie IX, large sections of the Point and St-Henri, NDG below the tracks, a number of blocks near the Jean-Talon market, parts of CDN, as well as others. The cash, which comes as a provincial tax credit, will run out after 550 grants are given. For more info call 872-3434.