Demolition of Pioneer would have ripple effect on Pointe-Claire Village

The sale and possible demolition of the iconic Pioneer bar will likely have a ripple effect on the PointeClaire Village, including nearby Bourgeau Park, a gem of a green space that hugs the shores of Lac St-Louis.

Pointe-Claire Mayor John Belvedere said the park’s redesign was already in the works long before the city sold a municipal parking lot next to the Pioneer to a developer who plans to build a condominium project, mixed with street-level commercial space, if the Pioneer is eventually knocked down.

At last week’s council meeting, city council approved the sale of the 35-spot parking lot on Lakeshore Road to Koebra Development Corp. for $730,000. “The price, with tax, comes to $789,000, I believe,” the mayor said.

The city has yet to grant a demolition permit for the iconic Pioneer, but the mayor said Pointe-Claire residents should expect changes to Bourgeau Park, including a new 200-space parking lot near the back of the park.

He said a new parking lot will likely be accompanied by a re-design of the park’s existing recreational facilities, which now include the Village Pointe-Claire Pool, tennis courts, pétanque courts, children’s playground, a park chalet, baseball diamond and a soccer field.

There is also a boat ramp to Lac St-Louis, parking, picnic tables and green space near the shoreline.

Although rumours have been circulating that the community pool would eventually be closed, Belvedere, a former president of the pool, gave assurances that is not the case.

“The rumour is we’re going to scrap all those sports facilities. No, we are not. If anything, the least we’re going to do is bring everything up to today’s standards.”

A last week’s council meeting, representatives from the PointeClaire Village Pool presented council with a petition to preserve the pool, which has served generations of local families.

Asked if the pool will eventually be moved to another location in Bourgeau Park, Belvedere replied: “We don’t know. Right now, we’re looking at keeping the pool.

“Our intention right now is looking at the whole park in a redevelopment stage. Obviously, there will be a decision in council but right now the pool is staying.”

Belvedere said plans to revitalize the village and park have been years in the making and involved public consultation.

Meanwhile, opponents of the proposed condo project are continuing to bang the drum for a halt to the project. One local resident, Paul Parfett, has offered to buy the Pioneer and spruce it up.

Andrew Swidzinski, a notary, also opposes the condo development plan. He said selling a cityowned parking lot is a bad deal for Pointe-Claire taxpayers.

“The proposal we put forward is that they reject the permit application and reject the demolition request so a private buyer can come in and try and operate (the Pioneer),” he said

“This is actually a transaction which is costing Pointe-Claire taxpayers money. We are in some sense paying to make this (condo project) happen and losing public land to make this happen.”

Belvedere said the sale of the municipal parking lot comes with conditions.

“The condition is that they have to realize this project within three years. He has to keep it open as a parking lot till he starts his project. If he doesn’t realize his project, then we take back the parking lot,” Belvedere said.

The Pioneer is set to close July 21.