“Horror Story” to Revive “Wart” in Old Quebec

A renovation project for a heritage building in Old Quebec described as a “wart” turned out to be hell for the owners.

• Also Read: Old Quebec: Claude Villeneuve points out urban “pimples”.

“It's honestly a horror story,” expressed Sophie Marchand, founder and owner, with her partner, 4 to 8, Rue Carleton, from 2019.

On Tuesday, opposition leader Claude Villeneuve identified his building as a “pimple” in the historic district, with no construction site in sight. However, the work was actually carried out and the first tenants moved in 1^er September, M confirms^me the merchant

But to get there, the couple said they agonized over years of administrative mazes in Quebec City and renovating a heritage Ministry of Culture building. The building's historical significance qualifies them for subsidies, but the owner said, “The sad thing is that from the moment we applied for the subsidy, we didn't have the right to start work before receiving the authorizations.”

“Awesome” delay

As the “mind-boggling” delays piled up, he added, “We had squatters, somebody set fire to the building, we had to replace all the windows because it took so long, the work, everything was robbed. Yeah, it's definitely a pimple, but it's a pain for us too. It's not really fun. .”

If she had to start over, “never in her life” would she take the same path.

“There's a lot of back and forth with the city.” The pandemic has a “broad back,” she said. The city and the ministry passed the ball on every aspect of the restoration to maintain heritage standards. Period-appropriate windows and doors cost $150,000.

It took time to change the zoning from commercial to residential. For M^me Marchand, This is ironic in a context where we are desperate to add housing to the neighbourhood.

Will struggle financially

“Our bank account is negative. All the positive money we made, we put it in our building. Fortunately we have a strong back. We don't have much money. A vacant building in Old Quebec costs us $10,000 in insurance for three months.

Squatters started fires on October 7, 2022 to change conditions. Out of breath they cried out heartily to the city. “We benefited from special assistance from the city to accelerate [les travaux] Because we were obviously so fed up that we threatened to come out in the media. We felt like people were laughing at us.

Finally, the municipality gave the green flag for the works.

The couple had a bitter taste of their adventure and understood that most entrepreneurs would not dare to renovate their heritage building. “They don't want to experience it, I think.”

The Marchand administration was reluctant to respond to this evidence.