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text
from article: Mont-Royal ‘Avenue Verte’
by Wayne Hiltz
PlacePublique, 26 octobre
2002, Vol. IX, no 18
The Mont-Royal ‘Avenue Verte’
project received a sympathetic, though not uncritical hearing at a recent
Urban Ecology Centre talk. ‘We’re not a bunch of green freaks,’ commented
spokesperson and architect Owen Rose. ‘We want to listen to merchants’
and residents’ concerns.’
Already supported by 16,000
names on a petition asking the City to hold public hearings on the project,
advocates say they want to create a pedestrian shopping street on Mont-Royal
with public transit that would serve as an ecological example within the
city.
Contrary to popular notions,
Rose said that urban cities are actually very sustainable ecologically
since they have high population densities that enable the sharing of infrastructure
and the support of public transit as well as local culture, educational
activities, and commerce.
‘We want to use a project
like Mont-Royal to show that ecological thinking doesn’t happen in the
countryside where there are very few people,’ said Rose, an architect en
stage. ‘It happens in cities where there are many of us who have
a very large effect on the world that we live in.’
Taking a holistic approach,
the project must also be commercially viable and create a positive social
ambiance. Besides getting rid of the traffic congestion and pedestrian
safety problems, it would be viable since the population density is quite
sufficient (the highest in Canada) and is easily accessible by public transit.
‘We have both and that’s really what will make it work.’
Concerning merchant’s concerns
that the project would keep customers away, Rose cited an OECD study showing
that only two out of 102 pedestrian street projects brought less business.’
Merchants are usually the biggest critics beforehand, but once it gets
underway, they’re the biggest boosters.’
Susan Bronson, a local resident
and Université de Montréal architecture professor, was enthusiastic
about the initiative as well as the approach taken to bring people together
to discuss the project. However, she still felt that much work needs
to be done, especially on addressing some concerns and getting the sceptics
involved in the process rather than having them create difficulties upon
presenting the project.
Bronson proposed starting
with only a few sections of Mont-Royal (rather than the whole street) during
the summer and winter next year to see the real traffic and parking impacts.
Then the project advocates could go into public hearings with much more
concrete, qualitative support. They should also closely examine how
the street fits into the larger Montreal traffic system and the impacts
on other major arteries, she added. Among the 20 persons who attended,
nearly everyone supported the project, but still asked questions, addressed
concerns, or made suggestions. While Rose and other project advocates
present replied satisfactorily to most comments, they did take notes on
some doubtful areas and expressed openness on receiving public input.
Visit : www.montroyal-avenueverte.com
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