Repairs progress on Mount Stephen building

However, things could soon be getting back to normal as renovations on the building progress and the displaced occupants move back into their apartments.

The blaze, which broke out overnight last Jan. 3, extensively damaged the building at 440 Mount Stephen Ave. More than 50 residents were forced from their homes, some of whom lost most of their belongings. There were no injuries, however.

The Canadian Red Cross was on hand to provide immediate assistance to victims on the night of the fire, putting five residents up in hotels for the night and offering clothing and food vouchers to 19 others. The Sun Youth charitable services organization was also involved.

Joanne Poirier, director of Westmount's urban planning department, told the Examiner shortly after the fire that demolition work, stripping and removal of debris at the apartment building were underway.

This week, she said a building permit was issued on July 22 for reconstruction of the roof, which had been destroyed, as well as for additional stripping. "We are awaiting plans for the reconstruction of the project," said Poirier. "It's up to the condo association. They have hired an architect and they're working on the reconstruction plans. They will be submitting that eventually to the City."

According to Michaela Meltzer, who lives in a single-family home right next to the apartment block, the fire and its aftermath disrupted life on Mount Stephen, although there was at least one benefit — parking on the street became less difficult. "The parking is very easy," she said, adding that the gutted building had given off a sooty smell immediately after the fire, especially during the damp winter months. "They got rid of all the rubbish from the fire," she said. "They cleaned it up because it had started to smell … "It was a problem after the fire when it all melted … but once they cleaned up all the soot and the ash and chucked a lot of stuff out the window it was much better."

Meltzer, who just returned last Monday night from a trip over the past two months, hadn't noticed much difference in the building's state. "No change," she said, noting that a utility trailer used by renovation workers has been parked in the apartment building's driveway next to her home for months. "I've been away so I'm not sure what's happened … I don't know what's going on. I'm not sure."

Jean Turgeon, another Mount Stephen Ave. resident a few houses up, said the fire and cleanup hadn't made much impact on his life.

But he, too, had noticed the improved parking. "There were far fewer cars on the street," he said, pointing out that some Mount Stephen residents used to have to look for parking spots on Côte St. Antoine Road at the top of the hill, or else on Springfield Avenue.