Pointe-Gatineau residents to pitch ideas for revitalizing flood-ravaged community

Residents of a flood-ravaged Gatineau, Que., neighbourhood will weigh in today at a public consultation onhow now-vacantland should be redeveloped.

More than 100 lots in Pointe-Gatineauwere damaged by extensive flooding in 2017.

• The ones who stayed: Living inGatineau'sflood-ravaged 'ghost sector'

Authorities have bannedrebuilding at the same site if a natural disaster could occur again in the next 20 years, meaning homeowners can't start work on new houses.

The affectedland currently sits empty, though residents and city councillors are working to make sure it doesn't stay that way.

"We want to make sure that people have a quality of life,they feel proud of where they liveand they don't feel they are in an abandoned space," said Myriam Nadeau, the councillor for Pointe-Gatineau.

Four proposals are currently on the table for the revitalization of the neighbourhood, with afifthexpected to be introduced at Monday's consultation, which Nadeau arranged.

Space may commemorate floods

In previous meetings, citizens proposed walking trails, a community garden, fruit trees and a commemoration site for the 2017 floods.

"Many families were established in that neighbourhood for hundreds of years,"Nadeausaid.

"We want tocommemoratethat, and tell the story of what happened inPointe-Gatineau."

All the projects under discussion involve creating a more ecologically-friendlyneighbourhood, from removing asphalt tocreating green spaces that could function as flood buffer zones.

No dedicated funding has been set aside yet, but Nadeau said she hopes the neighbourhood's redevelopment will be the subject of future city budget talks.

Until then, she said she'll use a portion of her discretionary budget to launch the revitalization project.

It's also possible grants from various climate change programs could be available for the project, Nadeau said, whileprovincial and federal programs could also provide a financial boost.

Residents look forward

For their part, Pointe-Gatineau residentsare eager to make a new start.

"It has not been leveled. There are bumps everywhere. There are weeds," said resident Louise David in a French-language interview.

"I would never believe that we cannot find an easy, effective, economical way to beautify it."

Jean-Guy Momy has lived in Pointe-Gatineau for nearly seven yearsand told Radio-Canada he'd like to see development in the area.

"There are many people who would like there to be parks or things like that," he said.

"I want to see construction companies build condos or apartments."

For now, only councillors and residents of neighbourhoods affected by the floods will take part in the consultations.

The City of Gatineau could start redeveloping vacant lots this summer.