Vanier Commercial building to be demolished for six 30-unit apartment buildings

Sophie Demers 

On August 29, during the Demolition Application Committee (CDD) meeting, the demolition request for the commercial building on the property located at 971 Vanier was approved. 

The commercial building does not have a known construction date but was built before 2004. The building has two sections, one with one floor and another section with two floors, near the back. The building was originally used for agricultural purposes, acting as a stable. It is currently being used by the owner to store material for their business. 

The building has no heritage value and is not on the built heritage list. The Service de l'urbanisme et du développement durable (SUDD) recommends the demolition. 

The owner of the property informed the city that the commercial building cannot be adapted for residential use, and the only option is to demolish the building and build a residential project which is the only use permitted in the zone. 

The owner has proposed a residential project that includes six, four-storey residential buildings, each containing 30 units, a total of 180 units. The project proposes to extend Rue du Pirée which would end in a temporary cul-de-sac, with this street eventually continuing to serve the property further south.

This project comes shortly after citizens banded together to successfully stop another project on Vanier at the corner of Boulevard des Allumettières, which was planned for 420 units. 

Despite the demolition being approved, the proposed project must still be approved by Council. Mario Aubé, CDD president, explained at the previous meeting that the permit for demolition is not granted until the new project for the land is approved. 

Both Caroline Murray, Deschênes councillor and CDD vice president, and Mike Duggan, committee member and Pointe Gatineau councillor, say they will have more questions about the proposed project once it is brought to Council.

Individuals and corporations may still appeal the CDDs demolition decision up to 30 days after the decision has been made. The process costs $122.50 and suspends all work until the municipal council revises the appeal. 

Photo caption: Example of the six residential buildings, 30 units each, that are planned for the 971 Vanier property. 

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau