Loeb paints to celebrate 150th Mayor Steinberg to run again Loose Adalbert dogs cause issue Carol Loeb in her home on January >@ in front of Canada-inspired Incumbent Hampstead mayor William Steinberg an nounc ed on Harvey Fox addressed the Côte St. Luc city council on January ?@. paintings that are part of her cross-country project to celebrate the January >C that he will be seeking a fourth term in the muni cipal His was concerned about unleashed dogs whose owner lives in his >B=th birthday of Canadian confederation. See story on p. >C. elections this November B. For story, see p. >B. Photo: Martin C. Barry. Adalbert Ave. building. See story, p. >>. Photo: Isaac Olson. Photo: Isaac Olson. Twice monthly NDG V9 (1D) Hampstead January 31, 2017 FRE EPRESS Côte St. Luc Mayor Copeman, Cllr. Searle agree on proposals for St. Jacques, Girouard & Sherbrooke Cllr. McQueen pe t it ions for on-ramp, pedestrian safety By Isaac Olson St., demand all-traffic-stopped pedestrian signals at the Girouard and Decarie Blvd. WHEN HARD WORK Kicking off the January 16 borough intersections,” states the petition. “We, the LEADS TO THE TOP Find Out What council meeting, NDG district councillor cyclists of NDG, demand a 15-second bike Peter McQueen launched a petition that and pedestrian only phase to cross Decarie calls on the Quebec government to build Blvd. along the de Maisonneuve bike path.” Your NDG an on-ramp from St. Jacques St. to the The petition calls on Transport Quebec northbound Highway 15 (Decarie Express - and Montreal’s centre city to honour the Home is Worth way). 2007 McGill University Health Centre traf - On-Line 2017 CROSSTREK 2017 FORESTER The petition also demands improved fic plan by building a Highway 15 entrance 104 payments starting from 104 payments starting from ** ** • SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE $ $ • BOXER ENGINE 1 pedestrian safety on Sherbrooke St. be - on the eastern side of the St. Jacques St. 129 138 • EYESIGHT SYSTEM bi-weekly, taxes extra 48month lease bi-weekly, taxes extra 48month lease 2017 CROSSTREK • IIHS 2017 TOP SAFETY PICK • IIHS SUPERIOR FRONT CRASH PREVENTION • ALG BEST BEST COMPACT CAR 2017 FORESTER • AJAC BEST NEW SMALL UTILITY VEHICLE • IIHS 2017 TOP SAFETY PICK • IIHS SUPERIOR FRONT CRASH PREVENTION tween Decarie Blvd. and Girouard Ave. bridge (currently under construction). Mc - Visit SUBARU-MONTREAL.com “I am launching a major campaign on Queen is calling on the government to pre - 4900 Pare Street, Mtl www.NDGHomeValues.com 514-737-1880north of the Jean-Talon/Victoria that front,” began McQueen before reading sent detailed engineering plans as soon as intersection, east of Decarie NAMUR **Lease o$ers apply to 2017 Crosstrek 2.0i Touring (HX1 TP) with manual transmission / 2017 Forester 2.5i (HJ1 X0) with manual transmission. the petition out loud. possible so that “traffic 104 payments of $129 for a 48-month term and $2,557.00 in down payment / 104 payments of $138 for a 48-month term and $1,988.50 in down payment. First monthly payment due at lease inception. Lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/year with excess charged at $0.10/km.. Gerda Schieder, groupe sutton – centre-ouest Dealer may lease for less. Vehicles shown for illustration purposes only. O$ers valid until January 31st, 2017. Certain conditions apply “We, the pedestrians along Sherbrooke volumes on Sherbrooke continued on p. 6 ((#(+"( "!$! + "++!## +'* *&# !))%$+)& ')* )'(*"+%$+(*+ '&*+%!* +(%#+$*!+&*$)'(*"+()$+ ) $(&+#*((%$+%(+!%%$+*#(!*"+%$()+(*+#%"*+)+)$( ) #*+'#+'+#!**+)$+(*+)&'&+"*#%$+%(+'+!'%&+)+'&( )'!+(%#+ $% *+ +#+(+)$")+!)'(*"+%$+(*+ '&* "*)+ +*"&))#+ +'(&))#+ +'&+%$"))& %!*+)+)$(&*'!+)*&!))#+'+*' (% !+'&"*$+'$"+%$&) $" ('$"*+'&%$+!)*!+&%'(*+(*&&'*+ %(*+#%!+$)( ))!+# &&) $"*"++'( &* (&**# ()+*+%##*" $)+) '%'***+ )+ +&&*& $)+)+%'%** 2 – THE FREE PRESS – January 31, 2017 NDG NEWS Worries percolate as St. Columba hall vacated by Chabad NDG By Isaac Olson While there was still a moving truck in front of St. Columba Church as of January 25, the property has reportedly been va - cated. There is plywood on some of the church’s windows and the entire property, from the church to its attached, brick-faced social hall, appears empty. When residents pulled together last year to thwart the demolition of St. Columba Church and nix the proposed housing pro - ject, they were told that the property would likely be abandoned. Undeterred, 244 res - idents signed the registry. Of those opposing residents, there were many fighting for the preservation of the church, saying they didn’t want a housing project making the streets even busier. Now, some of those residents are continu - ing to demand the property be safeguarded On January ?B, a moving truck was parked at Chabad NDG’s former home in St. Columba’s hall and the church had some windows boarded up. against time and the elements. Throughout the dispute, members of Chabad NDG and a daycare were located summer, but it appears that the needed In an email chain that included media, the Chabad NDG and residents have ex - in St. Columba’s social hall at 4020 money did not materialize. councillors, developers and neighbours, pressed concerns that anti-Semitism Hingston Ave. Chabad NDG’s administra - According to the property’s owner, Judith Bird wrote on January 6, “My hus - played a key role for some of those fighting tion had been offered the facility if the Chabad NDG and the daycare have elected band and I attended the presentation of to stop the development from taking root. townhouse project came to life but, with - to move out, but Chabad NDG’s Rabbi Yis - the proposed development last year and There was vandalism of the menorah in out it, the organization needed new op - roel Bernath says the owner wanted the felt it was a reasonable solution.” She front of the centre, Nazi salutes and a tions. A fund raising effort was launched property vacated. stated that it is “upsetting” that a group of growing unease in the community. with hopes of purchasing the property last Bernath says his organization is trying NDGers have derailed the project “result - to secure a new location but, other than ing in the church being boarded up and pop-up events at various locations, Chabad left vacant with no prospect of this situa - NDG currently has no home, but “We are tion changing in the near future.” committed to the NDG community.” Critical Home Inspection Traps Emailer claims ‘Chabad ghetto’ A call for protecting the church Bird was responding to an email chain to be Aware of Weeks Before Now many of those same registry-sign - sparked by one of the developers, Robert ing residents are calling on the borough Blatt. Blatt sent a letter addressed “to the Listing Your Home for Sale to do more to protect the property. With residents of NDG” in response to a widely organizations like the NDG Food Depot circulated email dated December 14. The in need of a new location to operate out email in question was sent by a “Paul Di - According to industry experts, there are In most cases, you can make a reason - of, residents are asking the borough to ex - acon” to residents in the area. In the email, over 22 physical problems that will come able pre-inspection yourself if you know plore options for the church. Diacon continued to argue against the pro - under scrutiny during a home inspection what you’re looking for, and knowing what During the January 16 borough council ject even though it was canceled six when your home is for sale. A new report you’re looking for can help you prevent meeting, Monique Charpentier expressed months ago. Diacon questions who the has been prepared which identifies the little problems from growing into costly concerns that the now empty, historical true owner of the property is and argued eleven most common of these problems, and unmanageable ones. property is not being heated or main - that, were the church demolished, the and what you should know about them To help home sellers deal with this issue tained. There are examples, she said, of Chabad should not be allowed to stay in before you list your home for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report developers abandoning properties in the the adjacent building because the property Whether you own an old home or a entitled “00 Things You Need to Know to city, ignoring them until they are dilapi - would no longer be a house of worship. brand new one, there are a number of Pass Your Home Inspection” has been dated beyond repair or burned by fire. This On January 26, the city of Montreal’s reg - things that can fall short of requirements compiled which explains the issues way, she implied, the building would be istre foncier listed the owner as 9286-5310 during a home inspection. If not identified involved. demolished. She asked about the bor - Quebec Inc., which has been the owner and dealt with, any of these 00 items could To hear a brief recorded message ough’s inspections – specifically asking for since the beginning of this dispute. On cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s about how to order your FREE copy of this assurance that the two buildings are prop - the same day, the Quebec company reg - why it’s critical that you read this report report call toll-free 0-5//-5/2-6643 and erly heated during the winter. istry listed Blatt as a director of the com - before you list your home. If you wait until enter 00/2. You can call any time, 13 hours A borough official with the Urban Plan - pany. Its shareholders are two companies, the building inspector flags these issues for a day, 4 days a week. ning department said the property is in - one with the same address as the other di - you, you will almost certainly experience Get your free special report NOW to spected regularly, though repairs cannot rector, David Kakon, and the other with a costly delays in the close of your home sale learn how to ensure a home inspection be demanded unless it is considered a shareholder at the same address as Blatt.