Vaudreuil-Dorion going ahead with new location for city hall
Vaudreuil-Dorion is moving ahead with plans to build a new city hall and aquatic centre near the commuter train station and Multisports Centre. Council voted to expropriate the large lot along Émile-Bouchard St. at the corner of Elmer-Lach St. at a public meeting on April 16. The lot has been held in reserve for civic use for several weeks pending final council approval on the site selection for the city hall. Mayor Guy Pilon said the site is larger than required for a city hall alone, creating an opportunity to create a municipal hub including an aquatic centre and other amenities. He said council is currently examining options for a third project on the same site. “Whatever we decide to do, we will have enough space there,” Pilon said. The site’s proximity to public transit and bike paths was another plus, he said, because visitors would have the option to take buses, walk or cycle instead of driving. Pilon said much of the planning for the new city hall has been done. While some elements, such as the façade, will need to be reconsidered to suit the new location, the overall footprint of the project won’t change. Pilon said the city hall will be a three- or four-storey building with 45,000 square feet, and may be designed to allow a later addition of another storey as the town grows. The city hall building will be the first to go up on the site, followed by the aquatic centre. He said he hopes the city hall will be completed by the end of 2019 or early 2020. The city of Vaudreuil-Dorion currently rents office space, with a lease that expires in 2019. An estimated budget for the acquisition of the land and construction of the city hall and aquatic centre has not yet been released. Meanwhile, a $1.1-million parcel of land overlooking Vaudreuil Bay that had been acquired for the purpose of building the city hall is being transformed into a public park. The location on 405 St.-Charles Ave. was ultimately deemed unsuitable to build after high water levels last spring raised concerns about flood risks. Decontamination and demolition of a building on the lot that had belonged to the Frères du Sacré-Coeur began last week. Tests revealed asbestos and mould in the building, requiring special procedures to clean up the site before razing the structure, a process which is estimated to take about a month to complete. Pilon said while neighbouring parks offer activities like volleyball or skateboarding, or space for festivals and events, the new park will be a tranquil space. “It’s such a beautiful site and we want to create there what we call a ‘quiet’ park,” he said. “People can go there to relax or to read.” Pilon said the goal right now is to provide citizens with access to the picturesque site as quickly as possible. A community garden, picnic area, small playground, parking lot and temporary chemical toilets are likely to be integrated into the park, he said.