Caldwell Avenue

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Many problems remain at 5789 Caldwell Avenue ever since a flood that took place in the building in February 2023, resident Bonnie Lewis told The Suburban and Côte St. Luc council at its October meeting.

“As of today, there hasn’t been any heat, they turn the water off and on and the electricity,”she told council. “We’re living in such a mess. There’s also a major renovation in the entire building. I understand that under Quebec law, we cannot reside in there, they have to move everybody out and pay for our move and the rent for the year, or however long it’s going to take.”

She later told The Suburban that the owners are just “moving people around, and because I’m speaking out, they want me out of the building. They took me to see another of their buildings, and it’s worse than this one.”

Lewis says she has hired a lawyer.

“I want to be put in a place of my choice because I do not want to be with any of their management.”

Lewis also alleged to council that the building is being neglected and that items have been stolen from her.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said the city has received many e-mails from Lewis.

“I received all your e-mails, I answered them. I’ve had inspectors from our urban planning department go into the buildings at your request and anything that the city can do to assist, we do. We’re a municipality and there are things we can do on many of your issues and we have been very responsive. So continue to send me e-mail requests that you think we can help in, and we’ll do it.”

Lewis said she has been stuck in her elevator four times.

“That’s the municipal urban inspecting department, they would have to go in and check,” the Mayor said.

Lewis further told The Suburban that ever since she moved into the building in 2017, there has been “barely any heat.

“When the flood happened, that added to the situation….It’s horrible to live in this situation, I have mould. The city inspector came and did a mould report, and 20 months or so later, they haven’t eradicated it or cleaned it. I’m totally allergic, I get rashes and welts and I have all the symptoms of mould and asbestos.”

Leah Berger, CEO of Les Maisons Kehilla, told The Suburban that “in response to the housing crisis impacting many Montrealers, Caldwell Residences is investing $6.5 million in a renovation project and improvements that involve changing the doors and windows and installing heat pumps and air conditioning in all the apartments so that tenants can live comfortably throughout the year.

“During the year-long renovation process, and to mitigate the disruption caused by this project on tenants, we are relocating tenants to vacant apartments within the building. As work is carried out floor by floor, tenants are relocated when their floor is affected.”

Regarding Lewis, “she was additionally offered the option of moving to another Caldwell building or in an apartment in the building to be renovated before her own. All moving expenses are covered by Caldwell; in addition, tenants are not required to pay rent during the month of their temporary move and are receiving Internet access free of charge while they are temporarily displaced.

“I can confirm that the heat is on in Ms. Lewis’ apartment. We have a negotiated agreement in principle with this tenant that addresses her earlier concerns. As part of the agreement, Caldwell has until Nov. 1 to complete the necessary repairs and will fulfill its responsibilities. The agreement is confidential, so I am not able to disclose the details.

Berger said she did not receive any new requests from Lewis lately.

“In fact, on Oct. 17, 2024, prior to the Côte St. Luc council meeting, I contacted the tenant by phone and offered to meet with her, but she declined. The tenant is aware that the process for requesting repairs is to contact the building Superintendent. Rest assured, we are committed to providing a secure, quality and affordable living environment for all our tenants.” n