The conditions imposed by the planning commission for work on the site of the demolished house in Old Quebec are necessary but could lead to further delays, increasingly impatient citizens say.
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More than a month after the city was demolished, rubble is still piling up at the site. Avenue Sainte-Geneviève is closed due to the risk of falling rocks. And the Old Quebec Citizens Committee fears the situation will continue.
Two weeks ago, the city granted the owner permission to remove the debris.
However, the Quebec City Planning and Conservation Commission (CUCQ) has imposed its terms.
Everything must be done “quickly” and carefully, excavations are forbidden.
For any excavations for a new building, a new permit must be obtained and archaeological excavations are required.
Important remains such as traces of the first French fortifications could be found in the basement of the destroyed house.
The chairman of the committee, Michel Masse, fully agrees with these imposed conditions.
“We’re in a very strategic location,” he says.
“We’re aware that we’re in Old Quebec and that if we lift a rock, there’s a chance we’ll find things underneath it.”
“But at the resolution level of this file, things get more complicated. Because this can increase the pick-up time.
Traffic
Citizens regret that the rubble is left in place. They point out that it emits a strong odor and fears a fire hazard.
For Mr Masse, who represents his fellow citizens, the matter should not be protracted.
“It has to be clarified. We can’t keep the road closed like this. It causes inconvenience to residents in accessing property, making deliveries, etc. It is an important thoroughfare. Traffic will be diverted to Saint-Denis. I’m not sure the residents of Avenue Saint-Denis want to put up with this for months. Especially since the tourist season is about to start and Avenue Sainte-Geneviève is a major exit route into Old Quebec.”
Harmonious future building
The CUCQ also pointed out that any construction on this site must be in harmony with the existing building. Any new construction must be approved and granted a permit by the Commission and the Ministry of Culture.
“The architectural value of the new building must be higher than that of the demolished building.” The new building must “take into account the size of the site and a template and architecture compatible with the surrounding built environment,” wrote the CUCQ in its recommendations.
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