The province of Quebec owns a sprawling property in pricey Ahuntsic.
The land between Gouin and Henri Bourassa is home to the Bordeaux Prison and the Tanguay women's prison, both owned and operated by the province.
The prisons lie in a highly-desirable part of Ahuntsic, as reflected in the eye-popping home prices in the district.
The prisons lie in a highly-desirable part of Ahuntsic, as reflected in the eye-popping home prices in the district.
Authorities recently decided to permanently close the 50-year-old Tanguay facility next year and relocate its 250 female inmates to the Leclerc Institute in Laval.
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Tanguay occupies the southern half of the property and sits behind the large licence bureau office.
That chunk of land alone is plenty big enough for, say, a shopping centre
That chunk of land alone is plenty big enough for, say, a shopping centre
The fate of the vacated Tanguay property will be decided in future discussions.
Any residential project built on the property would sit next to Bordeaux Prison, which might make it less desirable. Such a project would likely also require a zoning change.
The province closed Tanguay because they deemed the facility too old and outdated after five decades of usage.
This logic suggests that Bordeaux might also close, as it is over twice as old.
Any residential project built on the property would sit next to Bordeaux Prison, which might make it less desirable. Such a project would likely also require a zoning change.
The province closed Tanguay because they deemed the facility too old and outdated after five decades of usage.
This logic suggests that Bordeaux might also close, as it is over twice as old.
Closing both facilities would free up about five million square feet of land right on a lovely spot on the back river.
That's about half the size of Angrinon Park, which is truly massive.
Many will suggest that some sort of housing for the poor or park space be built on the land.
While those ideas are noble, they do not generate tax revenue, which is necessary to give residents tax relief and fund improvements to the city.
Going fully commercial would be a tempting route but creating housing and three or four parks in the space would also be ideal.
Authorities might go the opposite direction and just build a new men's prison on the vacated site of the former Tanguay, which would free up space for a possible housing with a lovely view of the river.
Many will suggest that some sort of housing for the poor or park space be built on the land.
While those ideas are noble, they do not generate tax revenue, which is necessary to give residents tax relief and fund improvements to the city.
Going fully commercial would be a tempting route but creating housing and three or four parks in the space would also be ideal.
Authorities might go the opposite direction and just build a new men's prison on the vacated site of the former Tanguay, which would free up space for a possible housing with a lovely view of the river.
On the downside, closing Bordeaux Prison would cost jobs and make life difficult for over 1,000 inmates and their families, as it might become harder to access a prison set in another location.
So if Bordeaux were to close, putting those inmates in a spot nearer to a metro, perhaps in the east end or Laval, might be the way to go.
So if Bordeaux were to close, putting those inmates in a spot nearer to a metro, perhaps in the east end or Laval, might be the way to go.