Christian Lozeau, a Montreal homeowner, has reportedly never had a problem with his house in 25 years. But now, he condemns the city's sudden order to build a garage under the house, which costs $50,000.
photo francis pilon
Lozeau in an interview**, it simply doesn't make sense! I've been living as I have been doing for 24 years, and it's ridiculous to build a garage in my basement to park my car in. ”
He lives on Boulevard Armand-Chaput in the Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles district of Montreal. He has been put to the test of bureaucracy since January 19. On the same day, inspectors issued him a "notice of violation" because the basement of his two-story house had been converted into a small studio long ago. Therefore, he did not have an underground garage and parked his car in front of his house. But now, this is being pointed out as illegal.
According to local regulations, cars can only be parked in front of the house if the driveway leads to a real garage. "They gave me 10 days to submit the plan and get the city's permit for renovation," said Lozeau, 57. They wanted me to turn my studio into a garage ......It's so frustrating that we have to do everything all over again. ”
photo agence qmi, mario beauregard
Worst of all, this garage was converted into a studio by the previous owner decades ago. He bought the house in 2000 and is currently undergoing renovations. "I called the city and they told me that there is, and the complaint about the converted garage is closed. If I had known they wouldn't allow this, I wouldn't have bought this house. Unfortunately, I did not keep any evidence or correspondence. Because I gave them a ** 24 years ago.
He also confessed that he did not have so much money in his pocket to fulfill the demands of the authorities. He, like many taxpayers, has been hit by inflation. "I had planned to replace my windows and doors this year instead of renovating my basement. Luc Castonguay, director of the district's Department of Land Development and Technical Research, confirmed that 29 dwellings on Armand-Chaput Boulevard had been issued "notices of violations".
Recently, inspectors patrolled around the area in preparation for the construction of a sidewalk in the summer of 2024. Castonguay plans to hold a meeting with Lozeau this week to "find a solution".
photo fournie par christian lozeau
But what's even more ironic is that the borough of Montreal has regulations prohibiting the construction of garages in basements, a new by-law passed in 2023.
Castonguay admits that "in fact, it is against the law to ask Christian Lozeau to rebuild the basement of the garage, since the new regulations are designed to avoid more water seeping into the basement".
photo agence qmi, mario beauregard
Danielle Pilette, a professor at the Université du Québec in Montreal and an expert on urban planning and governance, said there were inconsistencies in the application of the borough's rules.
The simplest solution for residents is not to build a garage and not to park at the entrance. ”
However, the owners of this community are very dependent on cars, and they need parking spaces.