I was down near the Monument-National theatre this evening and since I photographed the rear of the building recently I thought I should take some shots of the front.

The Monument-National is Québec’s oldest theater still in use, having been built in 1891/3.

The Monument on boulevard Saint-Laurent
ISO 200 – 18mm – f7.1 – 2.5 sec

The Monument on boulevard Saint-Laurent
ISO 200 – 10mm – f7.1 – 2.5 sec

The Monument on boulevard Saint Laurent
ISO 200 – 10mm – f7.1 – 0.5 sec

Carré Saint-Laurent project to begin in 2014

One reason why I was down in the area was that I heard today that the Société de développement Angus (SDA) announced they will begin to developing the project Carré Saint-Laurent in the area on boulevard Saint-Laurent at the corner of rue Sainte-Catherine.

Despite most businesses in the city block (Café Cléopatra’s being the exception) having been expropriated (I think in 2012), the initial project design was rejected, although that didn’t halt some of the buildings being demolished and others boarded up.

At last it appears that work will commence in 2014 with a mixed development costing $160 million, including;

• Ground floor to comprise of cafés, restaurants and food stores in an openplan concept (completion 2017).
• The first floor will have a cultural vocation – As part of the Quartier des Spectacles – with 7.3 meter high ceilings (completion spring 2017).
• Office space will form an important part of the project and the announcement is mainly linked to the fact the Quebec Government signed a 25-year agreement with SDA to relocate 700 staff  in the future building (completion 2018).
• 150 housing units. The SDA is currently planning building condominiums and some affordable housing (completion date 2016).

The SDA provided the following image at the press announcement.

Carré Saint Laurent (SDA image)

As you can see the building façade that was recently removed will be re-integrated into the new structure.

Café Cléopatra
ISO 200 – 10mm – f7.1 – 0.5 sec

Carré Saint-Laurent site
ISO 200 – 10mm – f7.1 – 2 secs

The SDA were also behind the relatively new 2-22 building on the south east corner of Ste Catherine/Saint-Laurent.

2-22 building on rue Sainte-Catherine
ISO 200 – 13mm – f7.1 – 1/6 sec

After so many years of being on hold, I’m pleased to see this area will finally get developed. It will be interesting (and no doubt a challenge) to see how the new development will integrate within the area which still has numerous ‘red-light’ businesses and is a popular area for homeless people to congregate.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

– Martin

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