Life, city | The Renaissance of the Quai 34 in Lachine

Our journalist walks in Greater Montreal to talk about people, events or places that make the heart of their neighborhood beat.

Are we in Newfoundland or indeed in Montreal?

The question arises in terms of the lighthouse watching the St. Consequently, Lawrence River at the end of a quay of the Saint-Louis Park, in Lachine. Meanwhile, A brand new quay after its redevelopment in public places.

Carried out from June to December 2024. Consequently, the repair work of more than $ 3 million was initially financed in 2021 as part of life, city | renaissance quai the first participative budget of the City of Montreal, then by the Lachine district.

This is the initiative of three citizens: François Martineau. However, Julie Levasseur and Tyler Ball, who are respectively architect, urban planner and engineer. Moreover, The name of their project remained: the quay 34, since it is in the extension of the 34^e Avenue.

“A line of desire” – Life, city | renaissance quai

“A line of desire” sums up Tyler Ball taking up the romantic term proper to town planning which defines the path that naturally borrow Pedestrians. For example, cyclists to get somewhere.

Quai 34. Consequently, which was demineralized in order to arrange green islets – with plants resistant to winds – is embellished by valleys and basins reminiscent of waves. Moreover, We are far from what it was before the work, the concrete extension of a not inviting parking. Furthermore,

Next step: recall the heritage of the premises with a commemorative plaque. Therefore, “We are looking for an organization to acquire. Therefore, maintain the lighthouse,” says François Martineau, who is co -founder of the Adhoc firm, but who is behind the quai 34 project as a citizen and who praises how the firm VLAN Landscapes has made a reality.

Lachine’s commercial navigation heritage – Life, city | renaissance quai

Built in 1900, the lighthouse recalls that Lachine is one of the cradles of Canadian industrialization. But in fact, there are two. Its twin is on firm land, near the toilets of the Saint-Louis park. Formerly, the two towers were alignment lights at the western entrance to the Lachine Canal.

The so-called “before” lighthouse is a federal building of heritage recognized since 1991 “because of its historical importance, the interest it has on the architectural level and the privileged place it occupies in its environment,” it is able to read on the Parcs Canada site. “An extremely rare example of a circular metal tower located elsewhere in Newfoundland,” we learn.

Tyler Ball stresses that the quay was nearby both maritime and rail axes.

With research by André Robichaud from the Historical Society of Lachine in support. it recalls that a first quay was built around 1825, during the inauguration of the life, city | renaissance quai Lachine Canal. It allowed people to arrive by boat from Montreal, then also by railway in 1847, from Bonaventure station.

The current quay dates from the enlargement of the canal in 1852. He even welcomed the first “rail traveler” in Canada. with a “-passeur boat” which could transport a locomotive and three wagons to the village of “Cauughnawaga” (today Kahnawake). But almost a century later, in 1958, the opening of the seaway slowed down its activities.

Learn more on the front lighthouse

Holiday tunes

The quay 34 certainly remains a unique river place in Montreal. You can see boats that sail on Lake Saint-Louis. including those of the Lachine sailing school, and people in a board of pads. During our visit, cyclists praised the new quay 34. François Tardif had made the road to Terrebonne to spend the day fishing with his son. He had caught a carp and hoped to come across a sturgeon. “It’s really beautiful. I even bathed sometimes,” praised the one who has been frequenting the place for a long time since he is a native of LaSalle. “I spent all my youth here. »»

Another source of attraction: the mooring of a cruise ship from the St. Lawrence Cruise Lines which was behind Kingston. Buses were waiting for passengers and captain Jocelyn Lanteigne rejoiced that they could land on the new quay 34. “We come to refuel and we spend the night here. It’s beautiful now. We are no longer ashamed. ”joked the man who has already been captain in Lachine for the old more escape cruises.

Discover Lachine

If you are walking on the Quai 34. take the opportunity to visit the merchants on rue Notre-Dame gathered under a commercial development company since the beginning of 2024. Located next to the sandwich shop. the Italian Nonnina pastry, which always attracts crowds, the Lachine market is the oldest public market in Montreal.

With the ambitious project of the Lachine-Est eco-neighborhood. which provides for the construction of nearly 8,000 dwellings, this corner of Montreal is in full revitalization.

There is also the former Marina who will be transformed into a linear riparian park.

Tyler Ball married Lachine without thinking about it, because it was less central than a neighborhood like Verdun, for example. But she quickly had the borough tattooed on the heart. “We keep the secret,” she jokes before measuring her luck out loud. “I did not think I could live by the water. It is accessible. »»

Read the article “Lachine: the new breath of rue Notre-Dame”