Although the largest outdoor light screen in Montreal does not comply with regulations and has been the subject of complaints since its installation, a second identical screen has just been installed in the same place, sowing the ire of the inhabitants from the neighborhood.
Photo Olivier Faucher
Neighbor Julia Sehmer denounces the light pollution produced by the installations.
“It’s not just dazzling and disturbing, it’s that I don’t understand the relevance of these screens,” says Julia Sehmer, who lives on Wellington Street in Griffintown. His condo directly overlooks the new Bouclair store which opened in November 2021.
The least we can say is that the company’s arrival in the neighborhood did not go unnoticed.
It has installed in its window the largest giant outdoor screen in Montreal, inspired by Times Square, in New York, on which works by emerging artists are shown, as well as advertisements for the store.
A second, despite the complaints
Initially, the light projected by this screen, which is on day and night, was so dazzling that it prevented several neighbors from sleeping, even with the curtains closed, in this sector where there are many condo towers.
“It was like leaving the light on in my room,” laments Randa Alem Bentaya, who lives opposite the store.
“The light was so strong that my apartment was colored with lots of colors. To sleep, it was very difficult”, also relates the resident Priscila Cabral.
After receiving complaints from neighbors, the store decided to lower the screen brightness, which alleviated the problem, according to residents. But what was their surprise when a second screen of identical size and appearance appeared in the last few weeks.
” Really ? Have you installed a second screen?!? Julia Sehmer then asked the company via Instagram.
“Clearly, they don’t give a damn regarding the neighborhood,” said Ms.me Bentaya. The real thing we would have liked is that they take the trouble to turn it off at night. »
Not compliant, says the City
In addition to disturbing residents, The newspaper learned that these screens do not comply with the urban planning regulations of the Sud-Ouest borough, according to inspections.
This provides that signs with luminous messages do not exceed 10% of the surface area of the window, a proportion which is “largely” exceeded by the Bouclair store, according to the borough.
“Coercive measures will be put in place to ensure that the company complies with the regulations,” said spokesperson Céline Vaillancourt. She adds that notices of violation have been sent to the merchant since November 2021 and that the borough will request a meeting next week with the company so that it complies with the regulations.
Bouclair did not respond to questions from the Journal.
