Official start of the Esplanade Clark Project

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 11, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The mayor of Montréal, Mr. Denis Coderre, broke ground today for the Esplanade Clarke project. The event took place in the presence of Montréal elected officials Mr. Richard Bergeron, in charge of strategy for downtown, Ms. Manon Gauthier, in charge of culture, heritage, design, Space for life and the status of women, and Mr. Jacques Primeau, president of the board of directors of Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles.

The Esplanade Clark project, whose concept was unveiled last spring, represents the last major step in the construction of Quartier des spectacles. All that will be left afterwards is the redevelopment of Rue Bleury. The Esplanade Clark project includes the development of a public square and the construction of a multifunctional pavilion. This new public site will consist of a grassy area and a paved public section. It will host shows during the festival season and a refrigerated skating rink in winter. From spring to fall, the esplanade will transform into a large furnished public terrace, comfortable and inviting, giving the impression of being in one's own backyard. Families will also be able to enjoy water games and playful furniture. The project, at a cost of $67.1 million also includes the redevelopment of Rue Clark, between Rue De Montigny and Rue Sainte-Catherine, the rebuilding of the roadway and sidewalk south of Rue De Montigny, between Rue Clark and Rue Saint-Urbain, as well as various development works completed in the previous phases of the Place des Arts centre.

The project phases

Excavation and decontamination work will be carried out from September to December 2017, on the land situated between Rue Sainte-Catherine, Rue Clark and Rue De Montigny. From spring 2018 to fall 2019, the multifunctional pavilion and the public square will be built along with the installation of street furniture and greenery. Development work on Rue Clark and Rue De Montigny will also be carried out during this period, including, in particular, the replacement and modernization of underground infrastructures and the planting of trees.

Quotes

"The Esplanade Clarke project will enhance the already bustling and diversified cultural offering of Quartier des spectacles and will become a favourite meeting place for relaxation and amusement at all times, for citizens of all ages. I warmly thank the government of Quebec and the government of Canada for their financial participation."

Mayor of Montréal, Mr. Denis Coderre

"Today we mark an important step in the Esplanade Clarke project which will permit Montrealers and visitors to take part in new cultural and recreational cultural activities while discovering the local heritage. This investment will have a unifying effect and will contribute to the development of Montreal for generations to come. The government of Canada is proud to make investments that support the growth of our communities while creating good-paying jobs that support the growth of the middle class."

Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi

"The government of Québec is proud to have contributed in a sustained way to the development of Quartier des spectacles, true hub for the Montréal and Québec artistic industry. With Esplanade Clarke, Montrealers and visitors will enjoy, in summer as much as in winter, an inviting and amusing site, a reflection of the cultural vitality of our metropolis."

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Mr. Martin Coiteux

"Esplanade Clarke blends in beautifully with the Quartier des spectacles. It reflects its main attraction of being a rallying, friendly and intergenerational public space. Moreover, this new public square enhances cultural outreach by hosting on its site an expanded program of activities, including festivals. This is good news for our partners, as well as for the residents, passers-by and tourists who will have access to a new outdoor site for cultural dissemination."

In charge of culture, heritage, design, Space for life and the status of women, Ms. Manon Gauthier

 "It is always a great moment to participate in the first groundbreaking of a mobilizing project that will contribute to the attractiveness and dynamism of downtown Montréal, as much for residents as for all Montrealers and visitors. It is also a great source of pride for Montreal to have such an esplanade that will host, in winter, a magnificent outdoor skating rink as well as facilities that will delight its users and contribute to the visibility of our metropolis." 

Elected official in charge of Strategy for downtown, Mr. Richard Bergeron

 "This investment by Montréal and the public authorities demonstrates their commitment to the development of the Quartier des spectacles and their desire to offer Montrealers and visitors a constantly renewed experience as well as a diversified offering. Esplanade Clark will perfectly complement Place des Festivals allowing for animation in all four seasons and on a human level."

President of the board of directors of Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles, Mr. Jacques Primeau

The development of Esplanade Clark completes the series of projects of the last few years for the Place des Arts centre, such as Place des Festivals, Promenade des Artistes and Le Parterre, as well as Rue Ste-Catherine, which began in 2008. The development work of Esplanade Clark will be carried out under the Fonds Chantiers Canada-Québec, the Grand projets component, and will run from fall 2017 to fall 2019.

Related links

To learn more about the Grand projets component (also called Major Infrastructure component) of the Building Canada fund, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcf-fcc-eng.html    

For more information (in French) on the Fonds Chantiers Canada-Québec, click on:

http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programmes-daide-financiere/fonds-chantiers-canada-quebec-fccq/

To learn more about the Esplanade Clark concept, click here, and to see images, click here.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

Sources : Brook Simpson, Press attachée, Cabinet of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613 219-0149 ; Marie-Ève Pelletier, Director of communications and press attachée, Cabinet of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, 418 691-2050 ; Noémie Brière-Marquez, Press attaché, Office of the mayor and executive committee, Ville de Montréal, 514 243-1268 ; For information : Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_fra, Web site: Infrastructure Canada ; Pierre-Luc Lévesque, Press relations officer, Director of communications of the Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, 418 691-2015, ext. 3746 ; Linda Boutin, Press relations officer, Service des communications, Ville de Montréal, 514 872-6013