Why does the colour of brick matter so much?
That was essentially the question Simon-Pierre Labelle, the president of Developement Immobilier Newman Inc. posed to Mayor Manon Barbe at the end of the November council meeting.
Labelle’s project at 1771 blvd. Angrignon has been stalled since June because the colour of brick the borough approved was discontinued by the manufacturer. According to what Labelle said, he thought he had an approved solution at the end of September and sheathed the building.
Now the borough wants him to replace all the brick. He could lose millions.
You have an agreement with the borough,” said LaSalle Mayor Manon Barbe. “If I agree to buy a car in fireman red and the dealer tries to give me one in maroon, I don’t have to accept it.”
Despite her answer, Barbe and her councillors removed motion 40.19 from the agenda. The motion implies they already discussed the issue and refused the derogation the contractor wanted. Removing it enables the borough’s urban planning committee and borough officials to continue negotiating.
The urban planning committee includes borough councillors Nancy Blanchet and Serge Declos, the borough’s urban permits and inspector manager Sylvie Champagne, Normand Trottier himself and local residents Frédéric Garcia, Daniel Thériault, Lise Forget, Maryse Allard, Charles Cadieux and Michel Langelier.
Passing motion 40.19 would have forced the contractor to replace the brick. Instead, Barbe told Labelle that the committee is meeting again and will discuss the issue again. She then told him to speak with Normand Trottier, the borough director in charge of solving the issue.
The borough council then passed as a block fifteen motions approving various sheathing, stair replacement and signs on various buildings.
Meanwhile, the landmark building on the east side of Angrignon south of Newman remains unfinished.
Note: This article appeared on page 18 of the City edition of The Suburban yesterday.
