Groupe Custeau is thinking big for this sector of the former factory. It provides for a mix of uses, including local businesses and housing offered in several price ranges, including cooperative housing.
When we talk about mixed housing, it’s not just luxury condos, it’s also […] housing for everyone
underlined the urban planner of the Jean-François Poulin Group.
It is major in terms of economic development and contribution that these factories have brought to Magog […] What we want to do is requalify the site so that in 25 or 125 years, the citizens of Magog realize the importance of having brought this site back to life.
said Denis Custeau, Chairman of the Board of the Group.
The jobs of the hundred or so people currently working on the Dominion Textile site would also be maintained.
The Custeau Group also wishes to incorporate green spaces into the land, restore public access to the river, and possibly embark on urban agriculture. The plan also provides for the revitalization of Principale Street, which runs alongside the former factory, and the addition of sustainable transport infrastructure.
The thirty citizens present at Thursday’s meeting had many questions for the promoters. Those who spoke, however, were extremely satisfied with the project presented. Many of them thanked the representatives of Groupe Custeau for their interest in revitalizing the sector, and pointed out that there is currently a crying lack of businesses and local services in the neighborhood.
The reaction of our members present was unanimously positive towards the presentation made by Mr. Jean-François Poulin, urban planner of Groupe Custeau. His explanations accompanied by visual documents were clear and precise. […] In the information transmitted, there was a strong question of public access.[c] to the river and local services for the inhabitants of the district
rejoiced Robert Renaud and Ghislaine Blache, spokespersons for the Collectif du Quartier-des-Tisserands, in an email to Radio-Canada.
The citizens of Magog want something to happen on this heritage site. Most of the people who live in Magog had parents or worked themselves in these factories.
remarked Denis Cousteau after the meeting, adding that he works in close collaboration with the Collectif des Tisserands. We will not go against the tide with the people who have an interest in seeing this site requalified
.
Magog Mayor Nathalie Pelletier said she was not surprised by the residents’ enthusiasm.
I can’t help but say that I expected it. We had had the privilege of having the presentation of the Custeau Group and of exchanging with them before, and we could see that they had understood completely what the citizens wanted, what they had been asking for years.
she argues.
However, she pointed out at the start of the meeting that the project has not yet been submitted or approved by the City of Magog.
Land stabilization and zoning change needed
The factory has been deteriorating enormously for several years, indicated the Custeau Group, in particular due to significant water infiltration by certain chimneys. Work has already been carried out since 2021 to stabilize the building, and will have to be continued in the coming months. Major renovations will also have to be carried out to bring the premises up to current fire safety standards.
The promoters will also have to reconcile their vision with that of two other owners, who share different sections of the land of the former factory.
The City of Magog’s zoning by-law will also have to be amended to allow for more housing in this sector and to authorize more commercial uses. This process will be initiated on July 4 during a meeting of the municipal council and the by-law could be adopted at the beginning of October.
If all goes as planned for the Custeau Group, different phases of the project could be started as early as 2022 and the building could welcome tenants around the summer of 2024.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca