atwater library at risk if westmount allows 25-storey tower next door, board says
tower on ste-catherine st. “would not only overshadow our building but also jeopardize its structural integrity.”
4 minute read
the three-storey beaux-arts style building belonging to the atwater library and computer centre at atwater ave. and tupper st., is a declared national historic site of canada. it was built by the mechanics' institute of montreal between 1918 and 1920.
dave sidaway/the gazette
atwater library has weathered a lot of changes to the streetscape around it over the last century, but the institution’s directors say their heritage building will be threatened if westmount accepts a proposal to permit construction of a 25-storey tower next door to it.
“it is the little library scared of the behemoth,” bruce bolton, who presides over the board of directors, said of seeing the proposal for the 25-storey tower in a document rendered public on westmount’s website several days ago.
the document was produced by the architecture firm lemay, which was hired by westmount to accompany it in drafting a new urban plan for the southeast sector of the municipality bordering downtown montreal.
the three-storey beaux-arts style building belonging to the atwater library and computer centre at atwater ave. and tupper st., across the street from cabot square, is a declared national historic site of canada. it was built by the mechanics’ institute of montreal between 1918 and 1920, almost a century after that organization began in 1828.
westmount is in the process of developing a special planning program — known in french as a programme particulier d’urbanisme (ppu) — for the sector bounded by dorchester blvd., ste-catherine st. w., atwater and clarke ave., plus a section that stretches to dawson college, between atwater and wood ave.
advertisement
diagrams in the document that followed two public consultations organized by westmount show the proposal for a 25-storey structure at the southwest corner of ste-catherine and atwater. the site currently has a one-storey building that once housed a mcdonald’s and a japanese restaurant and is temporarily being used by an organization that serves the unhoused population.
the lot is across the street from alexis-nihon plaza but also just beside the atwater library. continuing west along ste-catherine, adjacent to the 25-storey tower, the heights proposed for new constructions reach 15 storeys.
in a letter to westmount’s director of urban planning last week, bolton and library executive director lynn verge state that a 25-storey tower next door “would not only overshadow our building but also jeopardize its structural integrity.”
bolton said he worries that pounding footings into the ground to support a 25-storey structure would affect the foundation and structure of atwater library. the library invested $5 million over 10 years to restore and upgrade the building. two-thirds of the investment came from private donations.
“they obviously didn’t look at what they were doing putting a 25-storey building right beside a national historic site,” bolton said.
advertisement
“there’s no question that area, especially ste-catherine st., has to be improved. we’re just concerned that as an anchor in that area we’re ignored, or not thought of. no respect is the way to say it.”
westmount mayor christina smith said no decision has been made on the proposals in the lemay document, including whether to raise the permitted height to 25 storeys at the southwest corner of atwater and ste-catherine.
“any impact on atwater library would obviously be taken into consideration,” she said.
westmount raised the zoning heights somewhat on ste-catherine more than a decade ago, however the higher limits haven’t enticed developers and the stretch is moribund, smith added. taller zoning is needed to revitalize the street, she said.
“atwater library is a significant building in terms of its heritage architecture,” smith said.
“but at the same time we have a challenge of densification and housing and making a street viable for developers, too.”
smith also said she often hears concerns about structural damage when there’s construction next door, but “westmount is very diligent in its protection of buildings in its construction management process.”
a project was discussed with westmount for a stretch of the south side of ste-catherine, including the building at the corner of atwater, the mayor said. however, the southeast sector is under a rezoning freeze pending the ppu, she said.
advertisement
atwater library is the only surviving mechanics’ institute established in canada in the 19th century, and the national historic sites website says it’s the oldest subscription library in canada.
the mechanics’ institute was an important social, cultural and educational movement of the era, dedicated to educating workers for emerging industries.
the montreal mechanics’ institute, which was first located on st. james st. (now st-jacques st.), was the first to be established in continental british north america.
these days, on top of a lending library, atwater library hosts digital literacy workshops, writing workshops, courses on personal finance and job skills training, lectures, concerts, book discussions and arts and crafts exhibits.
westmount is accepting public comments until dec. 31 on all the proposals for the southeast sector on a web page dedicated to the ppu. bolton said his board is hoping the public will comment on the 25-storey height proposed for the ste-catherine and atwater corner.
bolton suggested the proposed 25-storey building be set back from the corner so it doesn’t dwarf atwater library.
“we’re very determined to be good neighbours to work with the plan and to see what we can come up with that is good for all parties involved,” he said.
advertisement
“we’re saying that (corner) lot has a lot of potential for all kinds of things, other than a 25-storey building.”
share story
