Revitalization
of 500 Claremont

High quality living in a
preserved historic building.

Project FAQ

The Project

Through the preservation and adaptive re-use of a one hundred year old building, we aim to create sixteen rental apartments to serve those in Westmount seeking a high quality living environment without the burden of home ownership.

Before

After

Ecological
Conservation

Community
Enchancement

Patrimonial
Preservation

Public Seating Area

We have designed the project with the community in mind: respecting design elements that are important to the residents of Westmount and creating a public seating area on the property.

Increased Landscaping

Lush greenery will be an added focus, replacing an above ground parking lot with a beautiful garden. The existing trees will be conserved, providing privacy to the neighbours on the southern side of the property.

Car Sharing

For the first time in Westmount, residents will be able to forgo car ownership and use a shared service with cars parked on the property for easy access.

FAQ

Will there be a lot of noise and for how long?

Demolition and Civil work will cause the most noise during the early stages of construction. We will ensure strict adherence to Westmount’s bylaws concerning allowable hours of construction. Construction is estimated to last approximately 18-24 months, including interior decontamination, a procedure that will take 2-3 months. Interior work should not be disruptive to neighbours.

Will there be more traffic on Claremont Avenue?

No. An initial traffic study was conducted in August 2016 and, at the request of the citizens, a second study was conducted in January 2017, both of which concluded that the project will have no impact on traffic conditions. This second study was conducted to verify that our first results were indeed representative of a regular working day on Claremont. The traffic data was also adjusted for the month of April for an even broader picture of typical busy day conditions.

Will there be less street parking with the new building?

There will be a loss of one street parking spot in front of the garage access ramp on Claremont Avenue. However, to offset the loss of parking, we aim to implement a car sharing service, which will be available on the property and accessible to all residents of Westmount.

Will the old trees be preserved?

Yes. A study by Fauteux et Associés Landscape Architects and the City has determined critical distances to be maintained and specific building techniques to be used around existing trees lining the property on the south side. The southern limit of our underground parking has been moved away from the trees to follow those recommendations.

Where can I find out more information about the zoning change process?

More information on the process can be found on the City of Westmount Website, under the heading “Resident Zone” in the subsection of “Urban Planning”. Specifically relating to this project, please visit http://westmount.org/en/resident-zone/urban-planning/scaopi/

How much bigger will the building be?

The proposed building floorplate will be expanded from 6,240 square feet to 8,627 square feet – for a new footprint occupying 34.5% of the land from the current 25%.

Will the garage access pose a safety risk to pedestrians, cyclists and oncoming vehicles?

No. To be sure, safety measures will be implemented on site such as encouraging right turns when exiting the garage as well as the installation of a two-colour passage management light system that will effectively manage the entries and exits of the site.

Will there be more windows added to the south side of the building?

Based on feedback from the December 2016 presentation, the architects have reduced the windows by 20%. The existing tree line will be protected, continuing to respect the privacy of the neighbours. All current façades are the result of numerous modifications requested by the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) over the last 6 months.

What variances to the existing zoning are being requested?

  1. Multifamily use instead of the current single or bi-family use.
  2. A variance from the building’s current height of 66 feet to a proposed height of 77 feet. The additional 12 feet will be used to house mechanical systems and other amenities that will not be visible from the street.
  3. A variance in height for the addition, from the allowable 35 feet to the proposed 66 feet, in order to harmonize it with the existing building.

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