Verdun mulls proposal to allow grocery store to rebuild much larger

  Robert Bellemare, owner of the Metro grocery store on Church, wants to demolish and rebuild his outlet on Church at Ethel in downtown Verdun and replace it with a much-larger structure on the site.
  The proposal incited much passionate input last night at a special Verdun borough council meeting Tuesday evening.

Proposed project seen from Church Street

  The plan is to demolish the two-storey grocery store and replace it with something about as tall as the school across the street.
   Seven buildings would be razed, including 22 housing units.
   Only 10 of those apartments are currently occupied.
  Sixty-seven new apartments would be built in the new project, mostly above the grocery store.

Seem from Ethel and Church

  About 100 people showed up for a meeting that lasted almost three hours.
   Many appeared hostile at first but were more receptive as the evening went on as Bellemare explained that he was foremost a grocer and not a developer and had no intention of taking the money and running.
  Borough council meets again next week and could approve the project, although Bellemare might also alter it to respond to feedback, in which case it would be further looked at in February 2017.