Devimco open to build a school in the city centre in a future project

Photo archives Agence QMI, TOMA ICZKOVITS
Serge Goulet, president of Devimco

Michel Bellemare

Monday, march 5, 2018 18:59

UPDATE
Monday, march 5, 2018 19:01

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MONTREAL | The promoter Devimco, which has been in the spotlight in recent days for her refusal to include a school in its proposed redevelopment of the site of the old Hospital for children of Montreal, “is said to be open to include a school in its future important projects in the city centre”.

The company has confirmed the opening in an email exchange with the QMI Agency, adding that “it is the reason why it will continue to work within [the] committee” to follow up on the issue of the school, which includes Devimco, the ministry of Education, the Commission scolaire de Montréal and the Ville de Montréal.

The spokesperson of Devimco, André Bouthillier, stressed that “if there are developments, this committee will continue these discussions”.

Last week, the group Devimco has made the news when it was reported that he refused to include a school in its project on the site of the former hospital located at the intersection of boulevard René-Lévesque and Atwater avenue.

“For the past two years, Devimco has always been interested to include a school in her project, explained Mr. Bouthillier, Monday, reiterating the explanation given last week. She even proposed a plan and has not been back to the school board. We understand that the government must design a new model for a school in this type of urban project. This model was not yet ready by December 2017. Devimco then had to proceed to the development of its real estate project joint which includes a community centre and social housing in-situ.”

For its part, the community organization Interaction Peter-McGill district, which is fighting for more schools in the district in order to meet the needs, is disappointed that it is not possible to include a school in the project of Devimco.

“We are disappointed,” said the communications officer Interaction Peter-McGill district, Corey Gulkin. But the Commission scolaire de Montréal and the City have not dropped, so there is hope.”

“The ideal site is the old Hospital for children, but if it is done on another website, we will not say, no, that’s for sure!”

The district is in need of three new schools to address the current lack, according to Ineraction of the Peter-McGill district.

In addition, the organization has still to contact another developer of the site, Philip Kerub, to see if there was a possibility of his side. The project of Mr. Kerub and its partners, which will be carried out on another part of the grounds of the former hospital, plans a hotel and condominium units high-end, as well as office spaces. The promoter will also restore the former nurses ‘ residence on the site.