Tramway Project Raises Access Concerns for Building Owners in Québec

The owner of three recent buildings located along Henri-IV, near Quatre-Bourgeois, fears that the tram will restrict access to his buildings for the 1,400 workers who use them daily.

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Société immobilière GP, a family business originally from Bas-Saint-Laurent, which has several properties in Québec, owns and manages the Center d’affaires Henri-IV, three buildings located along the highway, which are accessed by Wilfrid-Pelletier or Bar le Duc, from Quatre-Bourgeois. A fourth building is in the plans.

However, with the arrival of the tramway, the platform will be impassable in a westerly direction to access these streets. Another access, via rue du Grand-Voyer, was recently blocked by concrete blocks installed by the City.

“More than 1,400 workers pass through it every day in addition to their customers,” explains Michel Messier, vice-president and general manager of GP, who is worried about the sustainability of the building complex. “It’s already complicated for us to find tenants, and there, the main access, they will block it for us.”

Limited access

Anne-Marie Guilbert, director of project management and construction, notes that there will remain an access, by Hochelaga, one kilometer to the south. It is narrow, cluttered with parked cars and poorly cleared in winter, she explains.

The plans for this real estate complex were drawn up in 2011, and the first building sprang up in 2013. In the meantime, the tramway project has made progress. “We are granted permits for a $120 million complex that will bring in taxes and then we change the rules of the game,” laments Mr. Messier.

Société immobilière GP calls for discussion with the City of Quebec. “We must be consulted, it will impact us, that’s for sure”, pleads M^me Gilbert. “They are taking things away from us. We are going to defend our point, ”adds Mr. Messier, about the consultations promised by the City.

At the Tramway Project Office, spokeswoman Miriam Bard-Dumont explains that for access to buildings, “depending on the origin and destination of motorists, alternative routes will be taken. For example, it will be possible to turn right on boulevard Hochelaga to access the buildings located near Henri-IV.”

Primary school

The representatives of Société GP also fear even heavier traffic near the elementary school on Duchesneau, which they believe will become the preferred detour to access their buildings.

The official opposition had also made an exit on this aspect, at the beginning of the week, for a sector located further west. Mayor Bruno Marchand had assured that the objective was not to increase traffic in front of Saint-Mathieu school, which the City also reiterated.