Preserve the remaining green space on the Loyola campus!

We live on Doherty Avenue close to the north end of Loyola Campus. We are one of many families in the surrounding neighbourhood who are concerned about Concordia’s future plans. Despite promises to be a good neighbour, Concordia has previously failed to consult with the surrounding community on its expansion plans and caused much disturbance for us in the recent past. I am referring, notably to the following issues:

• The erection of unsightly and noisy towers on the roof of the science building. These towers were not mentioned during a pre-construction consultation with the surrounding community or indicated in drawings. The noise generated by this system disturbed our quiet neighbourhood and required a concerted effort by residents to get mitigation measures taken by the university.
• Despite indicating in the consultation phase the remaining green space behind the science building would be landscaped, residents were informed after construction that the contractor had just “thrown down some grass seed” and left. The result is a weed-filled eyesore where there was once a beautiful playing field that was much used by Concordia students and staff and the community.
• The university demolished a temporary structure and replaced it with a larger, permanent energy efficiency research house without informing neighbours. This required the construction of a temporary road and many more months of noisy construction on top of what residents had already endured during the construction of the science building.

All of this construction activity has caused inconvenience to nearby residents in the form of noise, a huge and unsightly mountain of dirt for over two years from the construction of the science building and, most importantly, a significant loss of green space.

Concordia’s master plan should prioritize preserving in perpetuity what remains of green space on the Loyola campus for the benefit of faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community. In particular, priority should be given to landscaping and tree planting in the north end of the campus to contribute to the quality of life of the university community, our city and the fight against climate change. We would oppose, in particular, any further construction in the north end of the campus, given the need for green space in our community and the quiet, peaceful nature of the surrounding neighbourhood.