Is very large REM construction an eyesore on West Island panorama?

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If the prospect of an elevated REM line within the east-end of Montreal could possibly be foreseen as an eyesore on the city skyline, how will the sight of the West Island’s line have an effect on the suburban panorama?

With massive concrete columns being constructed alongside Freeway 40 by the guts of the West Island, native mayors say the advantages of a contemporary transportation system linking the suburbs to downtown Montreal outweigh aesthetical issues.

However Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa is amongst those that doesn’t discover the REM architecturally inspiring.

“It’s too dangerous it’s taken this lengthy for folks to truly flag that. I imply, come on, we’ve all seen it. It ain’t fairly.”

The REM’s 14.5 kilometre western line will finish at Anse-à-l’Orme station in Ste-Anne. It’s the solely ground-level station within the West Island.

Hawa realizes the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec had little wiggle room when it comes to discovering house to construct a 67-kilometre gentle rail community throughout the Larger Montreal space.

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“Doing it at floor stage would have meant numerous land expropriation. The associated fee would have been much more prohibitive. I perceive they didn’t have one million and one choices,” she mentioned. “If there had been a risk of constructing it on the south facet alongside Freeway 20, that will have been excellent. However irrespective of which means you checked out it, turning it the other way up or sideways, there was no option to get that executed. Particularly now with extra distribution of products by prepare. You’ll be able to’t share prepare tracks.”

Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson has no qualms in regards to the REM’s structural look. He says it can mix into the trendy setting of Kirkland.

“We’re a younger metropolis, 60 years outdated, so the buildings we have now are usually not dilapidated . . . that kind of construction suits with the environment,” he mentioned. “The Kirkland station will look good; the precise prepare on the rail will look good.”

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Gibson mentioned he understands why an elevated construction won’t be a very good match for components of the east-end. “It’s in regards to the environment. If you happen to put that within the east-end or within the older sector of Montreal, it may look misplaced just like the Olympic Stadium.”

He mentioned the REM can also be driving up native actual property costs.

“The true property in Kirkland goes out of this world. It’s unbelievable.”

Dollard-des-Ormeaux Mayor Alex Bottausci mentioned the REM may even have a constructive impact on native industrial property.

“The arrival of the REM coming in pushed both the demand for our land and older properties on our territories to be revamped. The vital factor is to have developer not essentially develop what they really feel like creating however what our group really collectively wants, and try to discover a good steadiness between the 2.”

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Though there is no such thing as a REM station in Dollard, there are a number of in proximity to its borders, together with Des Sources and Fairview-Pointe-Claire and Sunnybrooke in Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

Bottausci mentioned there are trade-offs for having large infrastructure constructed above floor in city areas.

“My opinion is that it’s finest should you can maintain it on the bottom.  Something that will get elevated begins to turn into an eyesore, however you do have current infrastructure that it’s good to work round.

“And to the REM’s defence, and I’ve questioned them on this previously . . .  they are saying if you would like us to ship transportation instances — in different phrases we wish to run this prepare each 5 minutes  — we will’t have crossroads or (ground-level) obstacles. You’ll be able to’t have that. You want to have the ability to journey with out interruptions.

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“If that’s what brings transportation to a complete new stage, together with the expectations of the traveler, then that’s what we have to do as a group.”

The REM’s West Island line is slated to be operational by 2024.

After the novelty wears off, Hawa hopes West Islanders will nonetheless just like the look of the huge concrete construction in 2035.

“It doesn’t harm my eyes a lot proper now . . . however in 10 or 15 years and I can’t see the way it will age nicely.

“As I’ve mentioned earlier than, will probably be a graffiti magnet. How lengthy earlier than that occurs? It received’t take lengthy in any respect. Then what?”

Gibson shares these issues about graffiti.

“In Kirkland, we don’t tolerate graffiti. In the event that they don’t take away it, we’ll take away it ourselves and ship (the REM) the invoice,” he mentioned. “For now although, the look itself doesn’t hassle me.”

jmeagher@postmedia.com