Pollution, traffic, lighting and constant noise: the location of the future stored parking lot of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital worries residents of the sector, which are sorry for the loss of a green space.
“A parking of this type, at the open area of 670 spaces, on a residential street, there is no other place where it exists in Quebec,” says Micho Marquis-Rose, who lives on Chatelain Street, very close to the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital.
Like many of his neighbors, he is concerned about the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’île-de-Montréal project to build a large stored parking lot for hospital workers, on a green space located in its street, north of Boulevard Rosemont, by spring 2027.
The land is part of the “nucleus of the old streams”, one of the seven sectors identified as having a potential for biodiversity in the master plan of the district of Rosemont-the small-country.
Photo Alain Roberge, the press
Gazonné Chatelain field, near Boulevard Rosemont, on which is projected the construction of a parking lot by the Ciusss de l’Est-de-l’île-de-Montreal
There is a stream surrounded by a whole fauna, argue citizens. The Ciusss rather evokes a “drainage ditch which fills up according to precipitation”.
Originally, the structure was planned further east, at the corner of the Lacordaire and Rosemont boulevards, but the plans changed in order to keep the parking lot of several hundred places which is already at this location.
The project bill is estimated at 46.7 million, much less than the 125 million planned in 2022.
Infographic the press
Since then, citizen mobilization has been organized. “In 2025, it’s a bit unacceptable to have a project like that. Remove a green space and put a big concrete affair, it goes against everything we try to do as a company, “says Patricia Hurtubise, who loudly displays her indignation on signs in front of her home.
“When you start a car, it is the first minutes that are the most polluting. We are going to experience this 670 times, three times a day, because there are three [quarts de travail] In the hospital, and this every day, with most likely an increase in traffic in the local streets, “added the Montrealer.
She is also concerned about the collateral effects on children, an early childhood center (CPE) located next to the future parking lot.
Still possible accommodations?
According to Micho Marquis-Rose, everything around the project is “very vague”. “We understand that they want to favor this land at all costs, but no one is really advancing clear explanations to justify it. It lacks transparency, ”he says.
Photo Alain Roberge, the press
Patricia Hurtubise and Micho Marquis-Rose reside not far from the green space coveted by the CIUSSS and oppose the projected construction of a stored parking lot at this location.
Member of the “Bon Voain” committee established by the CIUSSS with the residents, Véronique Rousseau proves her right. “From the first meeting with them, we felt that it was already sunk in the concrete that the parking lot was going to be there. We have never felt open to really listen to ourselves, ”she says.
The very relevance of parking should be called into question, she says. “With the tram that may come, we can wonder if we are going to end up with an empty parking at one point. Except that we will have noise and lighting 24 hours a day, ”notes Mme Rousseau.
We want it, the hospital. The east of the city needs it and it is crucial, but we do not understand why money is put in poorly thought out parking.
Micho Marquis-Rose
In CIUSSS, the spokesperson Luc Fortin retorts that different scenarios have been studied, taking into account criteria such as “pedestrian safety, impacts on the fluidity of transport, integration into urban frame and environmental impacts”.
Photo Alain Roberge, the press
A stream surrounded by all a fauna crosses the ground, argue citizens. The Ciusss rather evokes a “drainage ditch which fills up according to precipitation”.
“All these analyzes were carried out and they led to the identification of the place where the parking lot will be built,” he continues.
Reduction of nuisance
During the construction, the organization provides for several mitigation measures, such as watering the site surfaces and the excavations of “moderate depth”, to limit the amount of dust.
As for the noise, it is specified that the work will be carried out while respecting municipal schedules, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
“The use of low-emission equipment and the installation of fences with the molewarm and lounge bike nets” are also planned, “said spokesperson Luc Fortin.
Finally, for the entry of the future parking lot, “an analysis of the impact on traffic is still underway,” said the spokesperson. “However, the preliminary results indicate that no increase in traffic flow is anticipated in the local streets, thanks to the implementation of mitigation measures, in particular the closure of the central mail on [le boulevard] Rosemont in three places, ”he argues.
The district of Rosemont-the Petite-Patrie has “no power on the project”, explains its spokesperson, Samuel Dion, because the renovation of the hospital is a matter of the government and “is not subject to municipal regulations”. However, meetings have taken place with the neighborhood and the borough will analyze traffic appearance measures to ensure public safety.
