I am pleased to report that I have been getting nothing but positive reviews regarding the reconfiguration of our CIty Hall/Library Parking Lot.

Last spring a contract was awarded to Groupe TNT Inc. in the amount of $1,941,716.78. The work included the reconstruction of the sidewalks and curbs, the replacement of the lighting, the installation of security cameras, the asphalt paving, the installation of new park benches, bike racks and recycling  and garbage containers.

We began work on the project on July 5  and it was carried out in three phases in order to minimize the impact on the public. This first section of the parking lot, which included 62 parking spaces, was opened on August 7. Phase Two, the central part of the parking lot,  was paved on September 11. Phase Three, which included the Cavendish entrance,  was paved on October 16, and opened to the public on October 31 following the installation of the signage. The landscaping was substantially completed in November. The park benches, recycling garbage containers, bike rack and street lights were installed in December. The activation of the electric vehicle charging station was done in early February.

Work left to be completed includes the installation of the security cameras.  Three additional large caliper oak trees will also be planted in the spring as these types of trees do not tolerate well transplanting in the fall. A total of 45 trees were planted to date.

Besides the fact that this is now safer parking lot to navigate by car or on foot, what most people appreciate is the wide drop off zone. No longer does a vehicle have to circle continually because someone is honking behind them.

I wish to thank Marianne Zalal in particular from our Urban Development Department and of course Director Charles Senekal for their tireless work on the project. When some residents expressed concern about the number of trees we needed to cut, In called an emergency meeting with Mayor Mitchell Brownstein. We proceeded to make changes to the plans and sacrificed a number of new spaces to ensure some healthy trees remained in place.

I look forward to everyone enjoying the full beauty of this new area when the nice weather returns in late spring.

The City of Côte Saint-Luc will be limiting parking to a maximum of two hours on parts of Marc Chagall Ave. and the north end of Mackle Rd. once new signs are posted in March 2018.

The goal of this new parking rule is to encourage workers at the Equinoxe Marc Chagall, currently under construction, to park their private vehicles at the temporary parking lot located diagonally across from Le Marquise.

With fewer worker cars parked all day on Marc Chagall Ave. and Mackle Rd., more on-street parking will be available for your guests closer to your building.

The new two hour parking signs will be posted on Marc Chagall Ave. from Mackle Rd. to Le Marquise, and the north end of Mackle Rd.

We know that this two hour parking limit may inconvenience some of your guests who stay longer. However, this was the best option available to achieve our goal: freeing up parking spaces for your guests you are not able to use the visitor parking lot of your building.

If you have questions, please contact Charles Senekal, Director the Engineering Division weekdays between 8:30am and 4:30pm at [email protected], or 514-485-6800 ext. 1501.

As Phase Two of the City Hall/Library Parking Lot project is under way, we have been getting questions regarding the pedestrian access to the building.

Residents take part in a meeting about the parking lot construction.

There is good news for some residents of District 2.

For many years parking on the southern side of Kildare Road, between Rembrandt and Merrimac,has been prohibited on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Residents have approached me numerous times to try and get this changed and for various reasons approval was not within reach.

Over the winter I have been working with our head of engineering, Charles Senekal (left),  to come up with a resolution to this problem. Many residents of the condominium town houses on Kildare Road like to leave their cars on the street when they come from work, rather than park in their garage. The city, however, has always needed to allocate some time for street cleaning.

The compromise I have been able to reach, with Mayor Anthony Housefather lending a helpful hand, will see no parking on that strip between 7 a.m. and Noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since most of the residents I spoke to indicate that it is late afternoon when they generally want to park on the street, I believe this is a winning solution. I would like to thank District 5 Councillor Glenn J. Nashen, who as head of the city's Transportation Committee, set the wheels in motion for this development.

We hope the new signage will be up sometime in March.