New bylaw could stop 'hidden demolitions' in Ahuntsic-Cartierville

Preserving historic homes in Ahuntsic-Cartierville Montreal's Ahuntsic-Cartierville wants to prevent hidden demolitions and preserve heritage houses.

There are growing calls to put an end to so-called "hidden demolitions" in Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

The push to save homes with historic value is being brought to the city council next month.

City councillor Jerome Normand says it's all about protecting the borough's heritage homes.

"It's a beautiful place. The oldest place in Montreal after Old Montreal so we have a lot to preserve," Normand said.

The borough hopes to adopt a new bylaw to prevent heritage buildings from being transformed beyond recognition.

"We just raised the elements that you have to respect just to be sure, to be clear that if we don't recognize the house, it's a demolition," Normand said.

While he says cases of hidden demolitions are on the rise, there's one particular project that sparked the debate — a new construction project on Péloquin Avenue.

The owner of the former shoe box house was denied a demolition permit but got around the rules by applying for a conversion permit. Half the house was buried under three new row houses.

For Heritage Montreal spokesperson, Dinu Bumbaru, there was no effort to preserve the integrity of the building.

"A shoebox is defined by the fact that it's one storey. So, if you add another storey, it goes from a shoebox to a duplex," said Bumbaru, a policy director at Heritage Montreal.

He says the issue is widespread in Montreal, including in the Rosemont borough.

"They wanted to densify but at the same time they acknowledged that the shoeboxes are part of the city's fabric, the neighbourhood character, and so on," he said.

With help from heritage building groups, the borough was able to strike the right balance.

"They identify which one of the shoeboxes deserves to remain a shoebox," Bumbaru said.

To prevent the loss of more heritage buildings, Ahuntsic-Cartierville wants to expand its definition of demolition.

Removing more than 25 per cent of a façade, changing more than 50 per cent of a building, or even gradual modifications over five years would count as demolition under the new bylaw.

Unauthorized demolitions will come with a fine of up to more than $1 million.

A financial guarantee worth 10 per cent of the property's value aims to enforce the rules, Normand explained.

"The financial guarantee will not be released if the work is not done like it was supposed to be," he said.

Residents will have their say at a public consultation set for Jan. 9.

If all goes according to the borough's plan, the bylaw will be adopted in February.