A controversial proposal to introduce paid parking along a significant stretch of Sherbrooke Street in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood has sparked strong opposition from local councillor Peter McQueen, who argues the plan "doesn't add up" and could damage the area's fragile commercial vitality.
Council Vote Scheduled for Monday
The Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough council is scheduled to vote Monday evening on a motion that would implement paid parking on Sherbrooke Street between Grand Boulevard and the borough's boundary with Westmount. Currently, parking is only paid between Hampton and Wilson Avenues, with the remainder of the area offering free parking.
City councillor Peter McQueen, whose district includes the affected section of Sherbrooke Street, described receiving the proposal as "a bit of a shock." McQueen, one of two Projet Montréal councillors on the six-person borough council, expressed serious concerns about the plan's potential long-term consequences.
Questioning the Rationale
"Paid parking should be implemented in areas where parking is genuinely scarce, as a mechanism to ensure some spots remain available for everyone," McQueen stated. "Across most of this particular area, there is no parking crisis whatsoever. We regularly see unused parking spaces available."
McQueen revealed that while civil servants had previously considered adding paid parking during Projet Montréal's administration, he consistently opposed the idea in caucus discussions. In recent days, he has met with councillors from the majority Ensemble Montréal party and borough officials to voice his objections in detail.
Business Owners Voice Concerns
Local merchants along the commercial strip have expressed alarm about the proposal's potential impact on their businesses. Joseph Benezra, owner and manager of Pizza Prima located between Girouard Avenue and Addington Street, was blunt in his assessment: "They're crazy. It's just another money grab. They have to stop that. I park here every day. So now I'm going to have to pay parking?"
Mahiban Mahesan, who works at the Marché AMK dépanneur between Prud'homme Avenue and Décarie Boulevard, echoed these concerns: "I don't like it. If you put metered parking, you lose customers. It's going to affect all the businesses here."
Brahim Mohad, a barber at Salamo Barbershop just east of Girouard, agreed that the change could result in fewer customers visiting local establishments.
A Fragile Commercial Strip
McQueen characterized the affected section of Sherbrooke Street as "a fairly fragile commercial strip" with a smaller customer base compared to more popular commercial areas like Monkland Avenue. He expressed worry about the proposal's potential effects: "I'm not sure what it does to Sherbrooke in the next few years. It could stunt its growth and development."
Mixed Reactions from Residents
Barry Lazar, an N.D.G. resident who lives on Old Orchard Avenue near Sherbrooke, said he isn't "averse to parking meters" in principle but would like the borough to provide clearer justification for the proposal. Lazar explained that people in his area often park on Sherbrooke when construction or street cleaning prevents them from parking in front of their homes.
"Being able to park on Sherbrooke and not having to worry about paying is really quite important for residents dealing with these temporary parking restrictions," Lazar noted. He questioned why the borough is proposing to install parking meters across such an extensive distance, particularly on stretches with relatively few commercial establishments.
Support from Active Transportation Advocates
Not all feedback has been negative. Jason Savard, a spokesperson for the Association of Pedestrians and Cyclists of N.D.G., welcomed the proposed change. "Cars parked on the streets have been kind of a nuisance for active mobility," Savard said. "For the most part, I think you could just walk to these stores, or bus or bike. Many customers of the Sherbrooke Street businesses live nearby."
Savard added: "I don't think any parking on public streets should be free, really. So I think this is a good direction we're going in."
The upcoming council vote will determine whether paid parking expands along Sherbrooke Street, potentially reshaping parking dynamics and commercial activity in this N.D.G. neighborhood.
