Shantytown in St-Henri neighbourhood prompts complaints
Some residents in Southwest borough calling for squatter area be to torn down
Some people living near a shantytown in Montreal's St-Henri neighbourhood have filed complaints and would like to see it torn down.
"The view is not really nice. It is really messy … It could be nice if it is torn down," said neighbour Lawrence Rustenholz.
The lot is surrounded by apartment buildings. Some neighbours told CBC they've heard a few voices at night and sometimes dogs howling.
"Is it legal or not? I don't know," said Betty Li, who lives nearby.
Inspection underway
Borough officials said they have received several complaints about the shantytown.
The office of Benoit Dorais, the borough mayor, told CBC it will take another look at the site to see if any
laws have been broken.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre tweeted that inspectors with the Montreal fire department are also involved.
Shantytown: inspectors from SIM (Service d'Incendie de Mtl) and officials from borough South-west are on their way to analyse the situation
—@DenisCoderreWith files from CBC journalist Sudha Krishnan