Blackswan Manor : Ballroom project put on hold

The project to expand Châteauguay's Blackswan Manor to include a ballroom that could accommodate 200 people has been put on hold. The site's owner withdrew their request to the city following the public consultation in January and will focus first on short-term rentals.

Translation Amanda Bennett

Châteauguay city council partially authorized the specific building, alteration or occupancy project (PPCMOI) at 72 McComber Street at its March council meeting. “We had a resolution to consolidate the Manor's current activities, which had been tolerated in the past but are now completely legal,” explained Emmanuel Hébert, owner of the Manor.

The site can now be rented for filming and content creation, and for short-term rentals. The Manoir has seven rooms that can accommodate 14 people. The entrepreneur is pleased with this new opportunity, especially in the context of the City of Montreal's ban on short-term Airbnb-type rentals within its territory.

Citizens' fears

Phase 2 of the Manor, which includes a ballroom, generated a lot of comments during the public consultation. Several citizens expressed their opposition, particularly due to concerns about noise and traffic, according to the city.

“It was very chaotic. That's what led me to put the project on hold, to wait for the municipal elections and to analyze the project again,” explained Mr. Hébert. However, he had collected signatures in his neighborhood endorsing the project and had signed agreements with neighboring property owners to rent out parking spaces, with the aim of limiting traffic in the residential area.

The Urban Planning Advisory Committee had issued an unfavorable opinion on the project.

“For the time being, it will be a concept that is similar to what phase 2 was able to offer. It's just on a smaller scale, until we come up with a phase 2 that appeals to a wider public, with an entrance on Boulevard d'Youville,” explained Emmanuel Hébert.