Sophie Demers
LJI Reporter
Developers, Luc Quenneville of Dév Méta and Pierre Ali Nordev, co-founder, held a public information session about their 15-storey, 251-unit apartment complex project slated for the south-east corner of the Vanier and Boulevard Allumettières intersection at 435 Vanier Road.
The information session was requested by Caroline Murray, Deschênes councillor, and Anik des Marais, Mitigomijokan councillor. Aylmer has been experiencing a development boom over the last decade and citizens have raised concerns about the increased traffic on Vanier Road many times before. There are plans to expand Vanier; studies are being done in preparation for this work. However, the development project proposals have not ceased.
“An important point for Luc and me, as co-developers and partners of the project, is that we have been here for a very long time,” said Ali. “We have properties in different sectors of Gatineau. We have at least 15 years to develop.”
Residents voiced their support for many aspects of the project, such as the inclusion of 27 affordable housing units, a variety of units ranging from 1- to 3-bedroom, efficient energy standards, thoughtful architecture, and a shuttle bus that residents could use to lessen traffic. However, their main concerns were pedestrians, road safety, and increased traffic in the area.
Traffic and road safety concerns
After a traffic expert presented their findings from their traffic studies, one resident spoke up to say that this did not represent the lived reality of pedestrians and drivers in the area. Highlighting that some of the traffic data used in the study was from 2022, during the pandemic when a large portion of the population was working from home, while other data dated back to 2011.
“Sometimes I do my groceries in Ottawa instead of here because of the disaster that trying to get to Maxi is between 4 pm and 7:30 pm. It’s impossible,” said one resident at the information session. “It’s too complicated. I’ve been living in Champlain Park for 18 years. I think you’re doing a great project. It’s beautiful. But the infrastructure in the area is not there to support it. You don’t consider the development that is currently underway. This will add to the already significant traffic problems.”
Others stated that the area was poorly serviced by public transit and expressed frustration that development was going forward based on the future expansion of Vanier and the tramway which will take years to be fully completed.
The project details an exit onto rue des Attikameks which then leads to an intersection with Vanier between Tim Hortons and a Daycare Centre. This intersection has no lights, and many residents have raised their concerns over the safety of the intersection and how long it takes to turn onto Vanier when there is traffic.
Halfway through the information session, it became evident that the residents’ concerns could not be solved by the developers but were directed at the City of Gatineau.
“We want to hear from our mayor,” said Nina Dani, a resident of the area who mobilized residents through social media to attend the meeting. “Many of the projects are causing tension in Aylmer that is now amalgamated with Gatineau and it’s changing its character.”
Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, who was present for the meeting, took the floor saying “There is a part of this the developer does not control. The Vanier area is not in the promoter’s court. A year from now, there will be a development fund that we will have to pay to help us expand Vanier. This is part of the process. Tonight, I am here because I wanted to hear from you. I know that this is a controversial project for which there are important priorities. It is very enlightening to hear from you tonight. We will have discussions with the promoter. I will have discussions with the city council.”
She reiterated that a decision had not yet been made about the project. The official decision by the municipal council will take place during the December 10 council meeting in Salle Jean-Despréz at Maison du Citoyen, 25 rue Laurier.
“I’m really worried about mobility in the sector. Aylmer residents are reluctant to have projects on Vanier and it is not the first time that citizens have opposed one in the area,” said Councillor Murray. “The artery is always congested. And then, particularly with this project, the fact that the entrance is through Rue des Attikameks, where there is not even a traffic light, creates a lot of insecurity. “There are a lot of people in this neighbourhood who walk, for example, to D’Arcy McGee High School. I am hoping for changes to the project to make it safer, so that citizens find it more acceptable.”
Photo: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Gatineau Mayor, addressing frustrated residents during the November 12 information session held with developers of the 435 Vanier Road project.
Photo: Sophie Demers