Grace Dart: 256 seniors threatened by a new highway project

MONTREAL, Dec.15, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The health and quality of life of elderly residents of the Grace Dart Extended Care site in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough are threatened by a new highway project to be built only 100 metres from the building.

Founded in 1853 as the Montreal Protestant House of Industry and Refuge, the extended care site is a major institution offering services to elderly anglophones in east-end Montreal. The centre now offers long-term care services to 256 seniors.

On Monday, December 19th, Montreal city council is to adopt a bylaw authorizing a $50 million loan to extend Souligny Avenue to the Port of Montreal in order to facilitate heavy trucking freight transport. The project clearly identifies the area next to Grace Dart as the designated path of the new highway and overpass.

Projet Montréal is deeply concerned over the impact this project will have on the future of Grace Dart and on the quality of life of its 256 residents as well as of the dozens of families who live nearby on La Fontaine and Vimont Streets.

A citizens' group supported by city councillors Laurence Lavigne Lalonde and Éric Alan Caldwell have responded to this threat by invoking a procedure known as the "Right of initiative" in order to force the City of Montreal to hold a public consultation on the project. Their aim is not only to seek public input on the project itself, but also to force the city and borough to adopt a more sustainable urban plan for the entire area. Their immediate goal is to collect the 5,000 borough residents' signatures required to force the city to hold a public consultation.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Opposition officielle à l'Hôtel de Ville de Montréal

Marie-Eve Gagnon, Chief of Staff, Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall, 514 872-0247 / 514 516-3120, [email protected]

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