Residents applaud committee ruling to delay razing of mall

Cheers erupted in the packed council chambers and parts of the main floor of Pointe-Claire City Hall last week after the demolition committee ruled that a developer must go back to the drawing board and come up with a project more suited to the Lakeside Heights neighbourhood.

So many people showed up for the ruling that chairs and monitors were set up in two sections of the main floor to accommodate the overflow from council chambers.

Demolition committee meetings don’t often attract a crowd, but last Thursday was different. Lakeside Heights residents were irate that a derelict strip mall on Walton Ave. was poised to be demolished and replaced by 24 townhouses. In advance of the meeting, city hall received 141 signatures on 95 separate letters opposed to the plan, three petitions and an additional document listing complainants.

Councillor Paul Bissonnette chaired the meeting, flanked by fellow committee members and councillors Eric Stork and Brent Cowan. Bissonnette summarized the complaints.

The loss of a green space called Walton Park topped the list of concerns, along with the loss of the mall’s dépanneur in particular and the loss of easily accessible services in general. The mall thrived as recently as 2009, with a pizza parlour, ice cream shop, hair salon and pharmacy — all within easy walking distance for the locals.

The dépanneur survived the longest and many lamented the way the closure has been handled. Dépanneur owner Sellathurai Jeyanthini spoke with a reporter during a break, saying no one told her the mall was slated for demolition even though the zoning change from commercial to residential had taken place years before she took over the store. She was told by the new owner that she had until the end of June to leave, which barely gave her enough time to sell what she could from the store.

A presentation of the results of an independent inspection of the crumbling strip mall was given and then the public was invited to speak.

The mall was built in 1959, but had not been well maintained over the last decade. The inspection discovered major issues including non-functioning plumbing and heating, mould, a roof in need of replacement and cracks that indicated structural damage. The cost of restoration was set at $1.66 million. Residents asked the committee if the project could be adjusted to include a small commercial element and asked if the green space could be saved.

David Owen, president of Mondev (the developer), attended the meeting and answered questions. “I’m afraid to get lynched,” he joked as he approached the microphone.

Owen explained that the proposed project followed the zoning rules and that the zoning did not allow for a commercial space. And he apologized, saying that if the project was approved, the green space would disappear.

The plan was not approved, but Owen did not leave emptyhanded.

The committee approved the demolition of the mall, but the permit will not be issued until a new plan has been submitted and approved. Because of an error on the notice of demolition — the address was given as 100 Walton Ave. instead of the actual 100-112 Walton Ave. — another demolition committee meeting will be held, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. at which point the committee’s decisions will be officially approved.

Citizen opinions on the project will be accepted leading up to the next meeting.