INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND
REJUVENATING INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND IN MONTRÉAL BY PIERRE THÉROUX, JOURNALIST
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DENIS TREMBLAY
CANADIAN POWER BOAT COMPANY, 4000-4008, ST. PATRICK STREET (SOUTH-WEST)
Located alongside the Lachine Canal, the site offers a breathtaking view of the city and Mount Royal. The landmark building is a magnificent testimonial to the early industrialization of the country. It was where the Canadian Power Boat Company built small fast boats for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War.
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he shipyard then gave way to a toy manufacturer, and later became a place for artists’ studios. They in turn were evicted to make way for a public works yard to park municipal vehicles. Then the space was abandoned, like so many other industrial complexes that lost their soul over the decades. But the heritage building at 4000 St. Patrick Street and the former abandoned 28,000 m² (300,000 sq. ft.) lot southwest of downtown will soon have a new vocation. The City wants to revitalize the site and create a new hub of innovative companies as well as studios for artisans. It is a flagship project for Montréal. "The site has huge potential for developing a mixed-use project that reflects the new economy of light industry, shops and businesses, artists’ studios, green spaces and community activities. We don’t want to build any more smoke-belching industrial plants," said Benoit Dorais, mayor of the Southwest borough and president of the City of Montréal’s executive committee.
BENOIT DORAIS Mayor of the Southwest borough and president City of Montréal’s executive committee
MONTRÉAL ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE : : SPRING 2021 EDITION
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