Pointe-Claire heritage advocate resigns in disgust
Claude Arsenault has been fighting for the preservation of heritage buildings in Pointe-Claire for 18 years.
But enough is enough.
The president of the Société pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine de Pointe-Claire resigned in disgust on June 11.
He told the West Island Gazette that the decision came with “a lot of sadness and tears” but that the tipping point was hearing about the proposed plans for the Pioneer bar and restaurant and its adjacent parking lot in the Pointe-Claire Village. The Pioneer is privately owned. The parking lot is city owned. The proposed plan sees the parking lot and the Pioneer lot turned into a luxury condo and townhouse development.
The project has yet to be officially approved by the city, but a real estate agency is already promoting it.
Arsenault grew up in PointeClaire Village and has watched 20 heritage buildings succumb to the wrecking ball since childhood. He has consistently lobbied to have the historic village separated from any urban master plan.
The struggle to be taken seriously has taken a toll on Arsenault’s mental health, which is why he is stepping down.
“Mayor (John) Belvedere campaigned with the slogan ‘Citizens First,’ ” Arsenault said. “I voted for him. I now realize those were only words.” Arsenault also said that Belvedere was not being transparent about the development project.
When contacted by a reporter, Belvedere conveyed his thanks to Arsenault for his work with the heritage society and congratulated Michel Forest, who is replacing Arsenault.
“I assure (Forest) that, as with all groups, he will have our full cooperation,” Belvedere said.
Belvedere said that during his campaign he told citizens that the revitalization of the village was very important. He said the guidelines included in the Pointe-Claire Village Special Planning Program and the Pointe-Claire Village Code are providing a new way for owners and developers to approach their projects.
On the subject of the Pioneer, Belvedere said it was the developer who has been talking publicly about the project, not the city.
“In order to protect the interests of all citizens, the city is required by law to disclose projects once they are officially accepted for evaluation and approval by the City,” Belvedere said. In the case of the Pioneer condo project, that approval is pending.
In his resignation letter, Arsenault wrote of the heritage society’s successes — “safeguarding the architectural integrity of the Point, by preventing the building of a parish hall in 2005, influencing the city to (name the Point) as a heritage site in 2013 and stopping the sale of the convent for condos in 2017.”
He’s resigned from the heritage society, but he hasn’t given up on what he calls “my last battle.”
Arsenault is part of a citizens’ committee which is fighting the demolition of the Pioneer.