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internationalx

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  1. internationalx
    Am I the only one that thinks a tower like that looks great on the Square? That sector needs a shiny Class A focal point like that. I mean, that Domtar building, London Life, and Union parking structure leave a lot to be desired. We also need to expand our business district in the future.
  2. internationalx
    This is very interesting news. I follow the Hotel business and Montreal is quite recognized today as being a leading tourist destination with a highly regarded reputation. We all know that Montreal's hotel development was near to none for 20 plus years. So no surprise that we're like a newly re-discovered market. Montreal is in good company with many of those cities mentioned. In fact, Montreal and downtown Hollywood share a similar story. The place was literally abandoned in the 1970's and hit the skids until the late 1990's' early 2000's.
  3. internationalx
    I think the scale and heights work really well here. But what is with this architecture? My GOD, it looks like the garbage built in this area in the 1970's. Awful! Soviet-style bunkers. I gotta add: that Pepsi Centre is hideous. It looks like a warehouse / big-box store. No character. Bring back the old look of the Forum.
  4. internationalx
    Uhm... if that is what they are building... it's quite nice. I know a lot of people would rather 1 building fill the block, this hotel is in a PRIME PRIME location. The design from what I can tell, is quite sophisticated in that it looks more modern (much needed in this sector, compared to, Roc Fleuri for example) AND, constructing more than one building on a city block is what we used to do in the old days. It will result in a far more interesting urban fabric in the long run. Frankly, 16 floors is a good height here. I don't mind it. The area is dense and it is part of the Golden Square Mile historic district.
  5. internationalx
    I don't know... but I just feel like as a society, we are so far removed from the Plains of Abraham... why are we still talking about colonization and feeling colonized? Is our present society not a product of our own making? Cities, in particular as diverse and dynamic as Montreal, are organic creatures. We don't resemble what we were over 300 years ago. So few Anglophones in Quebec even have British or Scottish roots today. English is a practical language for business. That's it. It has to be reconciled and embraced for what it is. That said, Montreal is so incredibly endowed because of the two languages. I wish we could just see ourselves in terms of all being Montrealers and Quebecers and less like Francophones and Anglophones and Allophones.
  6. internationalx
    Just some thoughts... I think it's all largely about dialogue. As an Anglophone, I can tell you that we wonder where the moderate voices are from the other side as well. I have often thought about the silent majority when groups like Mouvement Montreal Francais for example try to incite demostrations because there is English music being played in too many stores downtown. Growing up in the 1980's and 1990's I can say that from my perspective, the political and social discourse has been controlled by extremist groups too. I still hear the English community being labelled Rhodesians and referred to as the Anglo-Saxon establishment, which of course doesn't exist anymore. Groups have been making a fuss lately about recent demographics that show that the language immigrants speak in the home is neither French nor English and that somehow French is in decline on the island of Montreal because of this. *** Yes, we are a minority, but there has been trouble reconciling the fact that there is also hundreds of years of English history in Quebec and especially in Montreal. There are many ways to be a Quebecer and I think that it has been less about resistance and more reactionary. How can anyone forget the vitriol of the 1970's and 1980's like Anglo go home, good riddance, etc... spray painted all over the (western side) city. I think the political elite tend to think of the Quebec English community one-dimensionally,largely as just another cultural community (like the Greek, Italian, Polish, Haitian, etc..) which it really is not. I'm not even sure some politicos and interest groups understand the diversity - races, religions, ethnicities, languages- that make-up the English community. If I'm not mistaken the British and Scottish heritage make-up the smallest percentage. I often say that there are two clusters of Anglophones - those from the West Island, and those from Central Montreal. I also think that the 21st century world and economy has made us so aware of the importance of knowing many languages. I think we do a disservice to our kids if we only teach them one language. The vast majority of Anglophones know how lucky we are to live in a place where we can live in English and French. For me, Montreal is so fascinating because it is where French Canada and English Canada meet; it is a city borne of two cultures. Certainly a look at the demographic history of Montreal tells the story. I think we all have to take all the media attention that extremists from both sides get with a grain of salt and move on.
  7. internationalx
    I wish they would light up the Biosphere like the Eiffel Tower is lit. Not just a spotlight or two but light up the structural components with LEED lights. Maybe with a sparkle too. Would be amazing.
  8. internationalx
    Rome wasn't built overnight... the city has taken the lead and is setting the framework. The private development will come. This corner of the city will be spectacular in 10 years. Considering what it has been for 35 years, it will be quite a reinvention.
  9. internationalx
    My sentiments exactly.
  10. internationalx
    ADM offices look ready.
  11. internationalx
    On a quick glance the view of the Hilton Garden Inn from the Place des Festivals really adds a sense of grandeur to the area.
  12. internationalx
    It is unfortunate that the piece had to go into so much nonsense of the OQLF. Kind of distracting. Unnecessary. I find that at the end, the journalist stated what should have been a bigger focus: how in Montreal, it's less and less about Franco-Anglo issues and more about a new synergy that is emerging in Montreal - that is a uniquely Montreal identity and culture. I know that as an Anglophone, I feel that way. Also, there is an important distinction between being English Canadian and being English-Quebecer, particularly English from the central Montreal neighborhoods, which I think a LOT of people in Quebec and in the ROC don't yet understand.
  13. internationalx
    We all know that Montreal is losing residents to off-island suburbs. That is what I was trying to get at.
  14. internationalx
    Well, Bois-Franc and Anjou are on the island and in the city of Montreal.
  15. internationalx
    The new line btw Sherbrooke and McGill... interesting. Kind of exciting! No need for a tram if we have a metro station going from Griffintown to McGill. The orange line to Poirier and Bois Franc - just those 2 stations - is a no brainer! The population growth around there has been impressive with the development of the old Canadair site. Plus it ties in with the train de Banlieu at Bois-Franc. Not a fan of the South Shore expansion: can we stop the urban sprawl please.
  16. internationalx
    I will venture to say that for a lot of Montrealers, Place du Canada is quite meaningful and it is simply a change from Dominion Square - which is what Canada was, a dominion. Plus, there is a statue of John A. MacDonald in the center. Also, for a lot of Montrealers, Place du Canada and Dorchester Square are an incredibly important historical site - surrounded by Windsor Station, the Windsor, Sun Life, Dominion Square Building. Not to mention all the war monuments. They tell the story of Montreal's golden age. I will also echo another comment here and say that I am not a fan of re-naming anything unless the original name is say, 51st avenue or something. re-naming things is essentially altering history and being revisionist.
  17. internationalx
    Le Mackay looks pretty great! It's an interesting silouette and fun look at. I also think that the height and scale is perfect for the area. Best of all it incorporates the row of greystones. That row is so beautiful and are a great heritage of what most of Dorchester street used to look like.
  18. internationalx
    I totally agree... de Maisonneuve between St.Laurent to Bleury will make no sense.
  19. internationalx
    Well, this is a welcome sight. I am very impressed that the project is going forward and that tearing Bens down was not done to enlarge a parking lot. That said, this project may turn out to be well-done. Yes, it's not a skyscraper but it will add nice density to the area and help complete to renaissance of de Maisonneuve Blvd which is looking great; it will be our most cohesive and complete boulevard from Bleury to Guy. Also, like i've said before, why do we always have to build buildings that take the whole block... the street will likely look more interesting and engaging with 2 or more buildings next to each other. And there is always need for a hotel in this prime shopping and entertainment district. It may very well be a chic independent hotel. 130 rooms is considered quite a big hotel. As for office buildings getting built, most cities in North America did not get office buildings built during this last boom. The over-building during the late 80's and early '90's is largely the reason. But hey, at least we got CCE 1 and 2. Plus, in Montreal, we tend to get conversions like the Eaton's building that added commercial office space to the market. Oh, and we got CDP Capital Centre which has been a great addition.
  20. internationalx
    This is what drives me CRAZY. Great. Lucien l'Allier "station"? The short-sightedness of Montreal rears its head again. Tragically, we have arguably one of the most beautiful train stations - Windsor Station -sitting there, unused and unusable because they decided to build the Bell Centre in front of it. As I have expressed on this blog before, the Bell Centre should have been built on lower Peel street across from the Planetarium. That we cannot use Windsor Station for the train link to PET or any other service is truly unfortunate. Windsor could have been enlarged and done up with a mixed-use development with shops and check-in desks for PET etc... Could have been really spectacular. A real show-stopper for visitors to Montreal to remember as their last sight. Not to mention the Bell Center lower down on Peel street would have opened up and extended downtown's borders instantly and acted as a "connector" and catalyst for the re-development of Griffintown 10 years ago.
  21. internationalx
    Wow. Neat find! The same set-up at Phillips Square as well. Amazing how well-preserved the bathrooms are. Kinda too bad they were all filled in. The stairwells are quite beautiful.
  22. internationalx
    Well, I wouldn't hold my breath....how many buildings have been demolished for projects and the projects never went ahead?? I guess you could start by counting the number of parking lots downtown.
  23. internationalx
    Yes. You're right. But instead of doing what was best for the people and business, making the best out of the situation, the Quebec Government decided to make a political statement and use Mirabel as a pawn. It's not Toronto that got the billion dollar airport in 1969. It was Montreal and Quebec.
  24. internationalx
    Mirabel needed a lot more work that Dorval did way back in 1997. Highways and access roads, parking structures, completely re-configured terminal that doesn't use people movers.... bottom line, in 1969 it was still the first generation of the jet age... the industry has changed and evolved so much that an airport so far from the city center is just not feasible. Airlines - in particular, scheduled carriers (BA, AC, LH, AF etc..) make their money in the premium cabins not by leisure travel, therefore, business travellers and people with money. That means the main market for the airport is within the city limits. Simple as that. In 1969 governments and airlines themselves were clueless as to how the industry would grow and evolve what it's needs would be. I mean, the 747 wasn't even in service when YMX was planned.
  25. internationalx
    Sophisticated, well-travelled fliers prefer using smaller airports like PET. It's a luxury.
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