MikeCohen.ca

A visit to Kildare Towers

Howard Szalavetz, the owner of the large Kildare Towers apartment building on Honore-de-Balzac (off of Kellert and Kildare Road), was nice enough to invite me to set up shop in the lobby September 25 to talk to residents. Manager Barry Diamond (below with building caretaker Marino) greeted me at the front door and a number of residents were already waiting patiently to ask questions. In the interim they enjoyed the nice refreshments Howard and Barry had arranged for.

Kildare Towers is a large facility, with 163 units. There is a fairly large senior citizens population here, but they are an active bunch. I am often called to meet with people there in the spacious lobby and the in and out traffic at the front door is non-stop.

What did residents want to talk about? Given the fact the building is virtually situated in the Cavendish Mall parking lot, they are eager to learn what is in store for the community’s largest shopping center. I told them to stay tuned.

The Mall will seek permission to demolish about 40 percent of its structure, following which plans will be submitted to city council for the creation of a new housing complex. We will make all of this information public in due time. Since this involves rezoning, nothing can be approved without full public consultations. I assured the residents that council has devoted a lot of time and energy to this project and whatever we agree upon will be in the best interests of the city, our citizens and the Mall ownership.

Overall the residents were very happy with both the new building ownership (Howard purchased the property a few years ago) and the services they receive from the city.

Bureau En Gros Staff Not Talking - So Why a Liquidation Sale?

I have just returned  from the Cavendish Mall Bureau en Gros. I did not identify myself as a city councillor nor as a columnist for The Suburban Newspaper (www.thesuburban.com). There are big signs in the windows and throughout the store screaming "Liquidation Sale." That is always a signal to me of "closure."

"When are are you closing?" I asked the manager.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he said, then quickly walked away from me.

I ventured over to the photocopy section and asked the same question. The two employees just looked at each other.

"You have a big liquidation sign on the windows," I noted. "Does this not mean you are closing."

"Oh," one of them responded, "that just means we have lots of stock we need to get rid of."

Well clearly this will require more investigation. I hope they are correct and that the store stays opened.

Bureau En Gros Leaving Cavendish Mall?

All of those "clearance sale" signs at the Bureau en Gros at Cavendish Mall are not good news for shoppers. It appears that my worst fears have been realized and the store will be closing. I cannot tell you how convenient I found Bureau en Gros to be. La Source at Circuit City (formerly Radio Shack) closed last year and over at the Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre Rona Hardware shutdown. So there goes the "only" three stores in the community that sells eletronics. Bureau en Gros represented the ultimate convenience for office supplies and electronics. Word has it that Pharmaprix will assume its spot.

Superclub Videotron Exits Mall

Superclub Videotron, the superb DVD/Video rental store, has closed operations at the Cavendish Mall. I spoke to Mall management who confirmed to me that Videotron's lease was up. The Mall does plan to demolish that portion of the centre whenever their redevelopment occurs. It is regrettable that Superclub Videotron did not opt to seek a storefront location within the Mall itself.

As the city councillor for District 2, which includes the Mall, I am very saddened to see Superclub Videotron exit. I was among its loyal customers. The selection was excellent and with 4,000 square feet of space, there was plenty of room to walk around.

I am being told that some other video stores are already looking at a potential move to the Mall. And why not? It is a fabulous location, with a built in clientele.

So what are our options right now in Côte Saint-Luc? Well first and foremost if you are a member of our Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library you can borrow videos and DVDs from there. Children's videos and DVDs are free. Adults have two options: $1 per rental or buy a video card for $20 which entitles you to unlimited rentals for the year. We do not, however, have the same selection of a video store where they have multiple copies of most new releases.

Blockbuster Video at the Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre is much smaller than what Superclub Videotron was. I went there Saturday night, after learning that Superclub Videotron had shut down. I waited 30 minutes in line to pay.

The only other option for us is on Westminster Avenue in the Famous Delly Boys Plaza. That is where they have the $1 DVD rentals that you take from a machine. This might be a good option for some, but I among those people who likes the personal touch.

If Videotron does not decide to seek a storefront, I hope some other company like Rogers considers moving there.