Category Archives: News

Victor Hugo / Lucien L’Allier Family Activity Street Survey Results

All residents were requested via e-mail to complete a survey regarding the summer Family Activity Street designation between September 8 – 15, 2020. Overall the Family Activity Street designation was a success and with almost three quarters of the residents expressing they would like to see it repeated next year. The street felt safer for families and children and helped residents cope with the covid-19 pandemic.

The following is a summary along with the detailed results. Residents were able to also leave their comments which can be found at the end of the survey.

  • 69 Responses – 44.2%
  • Majority of residents (72.5%) would like to see the Family Activity Street repeated next year.
  • Overall the majority initially understood the objective of the initiative (72.5%)
  • The Family Activity Street improved ability for families to maintain social distancing (69.6%)
  • The Family Activity Street was liked (76.8%)
  • The street felt safer for families and children (79.7%)
  • Non-local traffic was still a major concern
  • The street designation helped residents and families cope with Covid-19 pandemic and enjoyed the street designation
  • Residents felt safer walking on the street (72.5%)
  • 85.5% found that the street designation helped in slowing/reducing vehicle traffic- improving pedestrian/cycle traffic
  • Only 40.6% of residents were aware of the purpose of the planters on the street
  • Only 21.7% or residents were aware they were to adopt the planters
  • 62.3% felt the communication was not clear in regards to the planters
  • 75.3% liked the planters while 62.3% would like to see again next year
  • The coloured lamp posts were not like by 57.9%
  • The green arrows painted on the street were not liked by 65.2%
  • 69.6% thought the street performers were a good idea
  • Half of the residents would have liked to have more activities (49.3%)

Areas for improvement

  • Communication of initiatives and activities should be improved. The association was under utilized and would be a much more effective means to improve communication
  • Although the planters were liked by many there was a clear lack of communication and planning
  • Lamp posts should not be repainted as this was seen as a waste of resources.
  • Green arrows were also seen as a waste of resources. Note, it is taking much more effort and resources to remove these arrows than there was to paint them.
  • Improved signage to ensure motorists are aware that children are playing on the street
  • Supervision of children is a concern
  • Speed bumps remain a priority

Website & Facebook

Feedback received indicated that a number of residents were not aware or had forgotten that the association does have a website and a Facebook page available. There was also a suggestion that it would be nice for a Facebook group or forum be available for residents to share and exchange information and ideas.PVH Survey-EN

Communication was recently sent reminding everyone of the association website (www.residentsvh.ca) and the Facebook page (L’Association des résidents de Victor Hugo/Lucien L’Allier). A Facebook group has been created where residents can share and exchange information. The Facebook page (L’Association des résidents de Victor Hugo/Lucien L’Allier) is a closed group limited to residents of Victor Hugo/Lucien L’Allier).

Detailed Survey Results & Comments

PVH Survey-EN

 

“Slow Dave” Kids Alert

Slow Dave Kids Alert

Traffic and speeding vehicles is a major problem on our streets. With children playing and enjoying the outdoors it is even more important that vehicles slow down.

A great item that is becoming very popular is called “Slow Dave” that alerts drivers that children are playing in the area and to slow down. Although some families are using traffic cones which are effective they are too familiar of an item in the city while “Slow Dave” stands out more to warn drivers.

“Slow Dave” is available at Karibu at 2475 Notre-Dame St. W, in Montreal. The price is very reasonable at only $54.95 and can also be ordered online. The following is the link to the item on Karibu’s website: https://karibu.cool/collections/frontpage/products/787699

Please share with your friends and family.

Montreal 1909′ by Robert N. Wilkins

One of our good neighbor’s and friend has written a book and would like to invite everyone to the Book Launch.

Montreal 1909′ by Robert N. Wilkins
Book Launch: Sunday, June 4, 2017, 1:00 – 4:30
Centre Culturel Georges Vanier
2450 Workman Street,
(Little Burgundy) Montreal.

Montreal 1909’

Explore Montreal in the year 1909. Learn about the day-to-day lives of our civic ancestors over a century ago, what they experienced in their everyday routine – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Extracted from the now defunct Montreal Star (at one time, Canada’s largest newspaper) this Edwardian journey through The Star’s microfilmed copies starts on a wintry Saturday, January 2, 1909, and ends on Friday, December 31 of that same year with the town in the grip of a major typhoid epidemic.

Montreal 1909′ is a testimony to the delights of local history. In rummaging through its 600 plus pages, consisting of both extracts and commentary, one emerges with a clear sense of what our city was like, warts and all, 108 years ago. A must read for the inquisitive Montrealer.

“Montreal 1909 delves deeply where history books often don’t into the minutiae of daily life. Here we have an intimate portrait of a city just beyond the scan of a human lifetime, close enough to our own days to seem familiar, far enough away to verge on the exotic.” – John Kalbfleisch, Second Draft Columnist, Montreal Gazette

montreal 1909

Pop-up Book Fair

rw-montrealFriday November 25th and Saturday November 26th, I shall be at the ‘Pop-up Book Fair’ at the Atwater Library flogging interest in my book (to be published in early 2017) ‘Montreal 1909′. The work is a day by day account of life in this city in the year 1909. It consists of extracts from the now defunct Montreal Star, narrated and edited by me! It’s quite a revelation to see how our civic ancestors thought and acted. Some of it is nice; some of it not so. Tomorrow’s hours are 3 to 8; Saturday, 10-4. Metro: Atwater
Hope to see you there! Montreal 1909: QUELLE VILLE!!

Robert Wilkins

Garage Sale Success!

It was another fantastic year for our annual street wide garage sale. The annual event grew where we saw an amazing 27 participants, up from 16 last year.

The garage sale continues to be one of the best events of the year for us where we get to clean out items that we no longer need but most importantly an opportunity to socialize with our neighbours and showcase what a great neighbourhood we live in.

Many thanks to everyone that participated and a special thank you to Shengdong and Ai Ling who placed the signs early in the morning and Rudy who gathered them at the end of the day.

Start planning for next year’s garage sale planned for June 17, 2017!

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Victor Hugo / Lucien L’Allier Annual BBQ – 2016

Many thanks to everyone that attended another successful BBQ.  Fortunately we had good weather that allowed everyone to enjoy the festivities, great food and most importantly meet and chat with our neighbours.

I would like to thank everyone that volunteered in setting up, cooking, cleaning up after and lending us their BBQ’s.  Many thanks to Mike, Jean-Marie, Dominik, Hovig, Diane, Linie, Louise, Claudia and Fadi.  Your help was greatly appreciated and contributed to making the event the success it was.

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Programme Particulier d’Urbanisme (PPU) du Quartier des Gares

Programme Particulier d’Urbanisme (PPU)
du Quartier des Gares

 Submission on behalf of the Victor Hugo / Lucien L’Allier Residents Association

June 11, 2015

 Mission

The Victor Hugo/Lucien L’Allier Residents Association is an organization of residents with an interest in neighborhood issues.  As residents, we work together addressing issues and seek to improve the security and quality of life for the families and children in our unique area in downtown Montreal. Established only a few years ago, the association is actively involved in greater issues that affect residents in the larger area that includes a large portion of the proposed Quartier des Gares and the borough of Peter McGill.

Many improvements (and investments) in the immediate area to improve and establish parks and build community involvement are the results of the Victor Hugo / Lucien L’Allier Residents Association and local residents.

Overview

  • Many homes in the immediate area are heritage homes dating back to 1885.
  • Although the average value of homes in Peter McGill is $491K the average value of the homes in this area are much greater as are the average incomes.
  • There are an increased number of young families in the area requiring green space, parks and recreation.
  • Retention of residents is of key importance in building the community and revitalizing the downtown core.
  • There has been a great deal of change over the past few years following the arrival of the Bell Center.
  • The increased traffic and congestion is a major concern.
  • New condominiums and office towers continue to be built in the immediate area is resulting in major traffic issues.
  • For purposes of this document the region, primarily referred to, pertains to the area from rue St. Antoine to rue Notre Dame and from Rue Guy to rue Robert Bourassa.

Green Space – Reduced

  • The diagrams in the proposal are very misleading and needs to be revisited.
  • The diagrams indicate an “organized continuous area” of green space, however, when looking at the illustrated diagrams versus what is actually in place there is clearly a reduction of green space at the expense of development.
  • To compensate and illustrate this continuous line of green space corners of parking lots have been cut off to allow green space.
  • Directly beside the Welcome Hall Mission, the park is being eliminated for construction of a building.
  • The Lucien L’Allier Dog Park is being eliminated for construction of a building.
  • Open space and a portion of the George-Vanier Community Garden is being eliminated for construction of a building.

map 7

  • It would suggest when comparing the two diagrams that less investment would be required to “clean up and organize” the existing green space while not disrupting the current green space infrastructure a great deal.
  • In the immediate area there is the Welcome Hall Mission and the Salvation Army. Those persons using the services of these facilities need to be considered. Programs need to be established to ensure that the area is respected, safe and clean in a way that encourages all residents of the area to enjoy the green space with safety.

Recommendation

  • The existing green space must be looked at more closely on how to integrate and organize the space to be more accessible and usable by the public.
  • Thoroughfares are required to allow pedestrians easy access to each area in a safe and secure manner with minimal interaction with traffic.
  • Ensure adequate health and safety measures are in place.

Green Space – Currently not utilized

  • There are two areas (city walkways) where green space currently exists, however are not included or mentioned in the plans.
  • The two areas are indicated in the following diagram located between rue Lucien L’Allier and rue Lusignan and rue St. Antoine and rue Bonaventure.

laneways2

  • These two walkways offer a tranquil green area that should be included and further enhanced within the PPU.

laneways

Recommendation

  • Inclusion of the two identified city pathways within the project.

 Congestion: Traffic, Cyclists, Pedestrians / Noise

  • Increased traffic and congestion is a major concern.
  • New condominiums continue to be built, however little to no improvements to the traffic infrastructure has been made. This results in traffic gridlock that was once during rush hour is now occurring all day.
  • With the building of the new Champlain within the next couple of years traffic will only get worse as more vehicles use de la Montagne to head towards the Victoria Bridge.
  • Increased traffic is making the roads and intersections more dangerous for everyone, in particular pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Parking is a premium for residents as the local streets are nothing more than parking lots for those who transit to work downtown or attend events at the Bell Center.
  • Traffic and parking regulations are not being properly enforced, with many vehicles improperly using the roads, (speeding, illegal turns, access local only streets), and vehicles illegally parked with bylaws misinterpreted resulting in unsafe residential streets.
  • Noise from the traffic on the highway and train tracks is becoming worse. Many complaints have been made regarding the announcements made from the train station throughout the day. These announcements can be heard throughout the neighbourhood yet complaints have only been ignored. With the continual refusal to deal with traffic and noise in the area there is little confidence by residences that there will be any improvements and that matters will only get worse and further ignored.

Recommendation

  • Before any improvements are approved, the infrastructure needs to be reviewed with a solid plan to improve the traffic congestion.
  • Walkways over congested streets should be considered. In addition a cohesive plan for bicycle paths that do not interfere with the movement of traffic, and are not at the expense of traffic lanes or parking, needs to be developed.
  • The Lucien L’Allier train station must address the noise from the speakers with improved technology.

Community Gardens

  • Elimination of two community gardens, Georges-Vanier Community Garden located on Rue St. Jacques between de la Montagne / rue Jean d’Estrées and the Versailles Community Garden located on rue St. Antoine between rue Lucien L’Allier / rue Versailles.
  • The community gardens are enjoyed not only by those cultivating and growing vegetables and flowers, but also by many residents overlooking or passing by on a daily basis.
  • The community gardens bring communities and residents together that build community spirit and pride.
  • Over the past couple of years, to the dismay of the George Vanier Community Gardens and local residents, a portion of the garden was going to be annexed in order to facilitate a cooperative housing project. In 2014 the gardens received additional space from the city of Montreal and MTQ to compensate for the lost land. The gardens have been re-cultivated through hard work only to be destroyed by the PPU plans.
  • The fact that these community gardens exist, providing green space in the downtown core, should be the pride of Montreal.
  • Although indicated that the community gardens would be relocated, it is difficult to imagine, and overly optimistic, where or how two gardens would be located in such a small area on the corner of rue St. Antoine and rue Guy. While the diagram is very effective at identifying green space is does not reflect the terrain in this area that greatly affects the use of the community gardens.
  • Access to the proposed located would be very difficult and dangerous at best due to the volume of traffic.

Recommendation

  • The two community gardens should remain where currently situated and better integrated and beautified within the existing plans and allow those in the area or passing to view and enjoy the gardens.

Lucien L’Allier Dog Park

  • In the fall of 2014 the city opened the new dog park after investing $250K. To eliminate/move the dog park following such a recent investment is a wasteful use of resources.
  • The dog park is enjoyed by the many pet owners in the immediate area and growing community of condominiums.
  • It is suggested that the dog park is to be relocated west, however it is not clearly indicated where and there is very little space.
  • This dog park should be enjoyed by all pet owners in the immediate area, however moving the park west is placing it further away from those that need the park, those living in the condominiums with reduced area to exercise their pets.
  • Dog parks by their nature are open public areas and should be incorporated into the existing plan.

Recommendation

  • The Lucien L’Allier Dog Park should remain in its current location and the PPU should better incorporate the existence of the park in the new plans.
  • A building should not be built on existing green space.
  • Any relocation should occur at the beginning of the project to minimize any inconvenience to area dog owners.

Identity

map 1

  • The proposed PPU “Quartier des Gares” map is not identified correctly with “Petite Bourgogne” reaching into Peter-McGill/Ville Marie. Petite Bourgogne boundaries are on the west side of rue Guy.
  • The identification of Quartier des Gares should include the entire southern area of Peter McGill/Ville-Marie and would reach to rue Guy to the west and rue Notre Dame to the south.
  • This area that has not been included in the identity is a thriving family community that deserves to be recognized. Included with the quartier is required to maintain the great sense of community that has been built over the past few years.
  • Many of the homes have been built where the former tracks were leading to the Bonaventure train station and therefore only right for this area to be included in the identity.
  • Although no additional investment is being asked for residents want to be included and identified within a “Quartier”. This area is not part of Petite Bourgogne and not part of Griffintown however often incorrectly included.
  • An argument was made that the area was not included in the current identification/plans since no work/investment was being made in the area, however based on the illustrations and the recommendations to relocate the community gardens and dog park this is not true.

Recommendation

  • Include the remaining area of Peter McGill/Ville-Marie west to rue Guy and south to rue Notre Dame within the identity of Quartier des Gares from this point forward.

Conclusion

  • Based on the feedback received from local residents the improvements for green space is much needed.
  • Additional construction and development of land at the expense of existing green space is strongly disagreed.
  • The current community gardens and dog park should be integrated into the overall plan where they currently exist and should NOT be relocated.
  • The PPU does not accurately reflect the real situation and quite frankly appears to be more of a “sales-pitch” with many flaws.
  • Any identification of the area must accurately reflect and include the balance of Peter McGill
  • Common theme and feedback is to clean up/organize the existing area and green space, plant more trees and save tax dollars.

PVH Logo 1 - Copy (Medium)

 

 

 

 

Victor Hugo/Lucien L’Allier Residents Association

residents.vh@gmail.com

www.residentsvh.ca

Victor Hugo / Lucien L’Allier Garage Sale – June 20

Picture1Victor Hugo / Lucien L’Allier Garage Sale – June 20!

Our annual garage sale is June 20th. Each year our street-wide garage sale is more successful and it will be great to make this event even better with more residents participating.

It is a fun day for family and friends and you will be able to clear away unwanted items and make money too!

The garage sale will be advertised on various internet websites, CJAD radio and signage placed around the area the morning of the garage sale.

To have the best garage sale check out our website for tips and tricks.

http://residentsvh.ca/wp/en/news/garage-sale-tips-tricks/

Hope to see as many as possible this year!

Food Drive – December 13th & 14th

pantry-wagonIn less than four weeks the holiday season will be upon us. The season brings joy and happiness to many. However less than a thousand meters from our homes live a disenfranchised community, many of whom will not enjoy a festive meal.

Following the huge success and generousity of everyone last year we will be holding our second annual food drive on December 13th and 14th. Non-perishable food items as well as other items such as new toys or other new items will also be greatly appreciated.

Two homes will have a box placed at the front door on the 3th & 14th for people who wish to donate any items. If you will not be around during these two days and still would like to make a donation please contact me and we can make alternative arrangements to drop them off or I can personally pick them up for you. Following the two days Eddie will arrange to distribute the items to some needy families.

The homes to drop off your donation are 1586 and 1551 Victor Hugo.

Not sure what food items may be needed? Here is a list of possible suggestions:

  • Baby cereals
  • Broths
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned fish
  • Canned fruits
  • Canned meals
  • Canned meat
  • Cereals
  • Cookies and crackers
  • Flour
  • Fruit juices
  • Healthy snacks
  • Jam
  • Kraft Dinner
  • Vegetable oil
  • Pasta
  • Pasta sauces
  • Peanut butter
  • Powdered or evaporated milk
  • Rice
  • Sauces and gravies
  • Soups
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable juices

Please share this event with your neighbours and friends to help those nearby that are less fortunate enjoy the holidays.

Glen Site Open House – Public

You’re invited to a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the new Glen site!

December 07, 2014
New Hospital
10:00 – 16:00

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is rolling out the red carpet and inviting the public to an exclusive preview of our new, state-of-the-art hospital at the Glen site on December 7, 2014. This is a unique chance to be part of a much-anticipated health care milestone in Montreal, before we welcome our first patients on April 26, 2015.

This free event will provide you with a rare opportunity to explore never-before-seen clinical and research areas that will be off-limits once we open. Information kiosks and MUHC experts will also be on hand to answer your questions and provide information about how the new hospital will improve patient care, research and teaching.

Where: MUHC Glen site

1001 Boul. Décarie, Montréal

Accessible by public transit via Vendôme intermodal station

http://muhclovesmtl.ca/event/glen-site-open-house-public/