Projet Montreal is crying foul after Transport Quebec, without warning, began to demolish one of the oldest heritage sites in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve over the weekend.
Standing in front of the silos of the Lantic Sugar factory in the city's east end, Richard Bergeron accused the ministry of hypocrisy for its decision to demolish the 125-year-old factory on Notre-Dame St.
"It's an old trick that we used to see in the 60s and 70s. It was the way these things we're done at that time, what surprised me is that we are in 2012 and they are still using the same tactics," said the leader of the city's second opposition.
Neighbours and Heritage Montreal were surprised when demolition work started over the weekend, as the not-for-profit was not warned of the ministry's plan to demolish the structure before the wrecking ball was on site.
The factory will fall victim to the long-delayed Notre-Dame St. expansion, a plan to transform the busy street into a 12-lane expressway with the center six lanes lowered into a trench by 2025. Work is slated to start only in 2017, after the Turcot interchange in the city's west end is rebuilt.
Bergeron and Heritage Montreal want the demolition to stop so that the remainder of the factory can be salvaged.
