Lachine residents hope to give their lighthouse area a major revamp
Lachine's picturesque lighthouse and pier could be getting a revamp courtesy of a $10 million city fund set aside specifically for implementing citizens' ideas.
The lighthouse, which sets near 34th Ave. serves as a “meeting space” for residents, according to Julie Levasseur.
“It's also a landmark. Anybody that knows Lachine knows if you want to meet up with people on the side of the river, you usually say the lighthouse.”
Levasseur is part of a group of residents that want to make the lighthouse and pier an even bigger attraction. The group pitched the idea to the city, which has set aside the $10 million to carry out citizen-led projects. The pier and lighthouse facelift are among 35 ideas in the running.
“When the budget of the City of Montreal was proposed, we were like, 'You know what? We're going to propose a project and we're going to propose to revamp the whole area and create a boardwalk,” said Levasseur.
Among their ideas for the area is increasing vegetation and eliminating much of the asphalt and making the lighthouse accessible to the public.
“It's not that pleasant, satnding on a paved site like this. You can tell it's an industrial site. Our goal is to convert it to a public-use site,” said resident Tyler Ball.
The initiative has the blessing of the borough, which has plans for a larger revamp of the nearby marina.
“We have two bays that are incredibly beautiful on Lac St-Louis, that are just like a little nook that's protected from the rapids,” said Mayor Maja Vodanovich.
Part of the plan for the lighthouse area includes making it safer as a waterfront area.
“I didn't come here very often when my children were very young. They were very active, they would run around. I didn't want them to fall into the water, so the railings will really improve security,” said city councillor Michele Flannery.
Montreal residents area able to vote on their five preferred projects on the city's website until July 11.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.