MONTREAL – Mayor Denis Coderre showed off a presentation of a revamped Place Jacques-Cartier: a new promenade for artists, new structures – and heated outdoor seating.
“Ten years from now, people will ask why we didn’t do this sooner,” Coderre said.
The city’s investing five million dollars to revitalize the square. But restauranteurs in the area who would make use of the outdoor seating aren’t as enthusiastic.
The problem, restauranteurs say, is that crossing the streets of the plaza in the midst of all the tourist traffic is a frightening prospect.
“It’s clear to me the people behind this have no idea how to run a restaurant,” said Donation Trafficante who owns Trattoria Gio.
For the city’s part, the heated seating will allow restaurants to remain open year-round. Currently restaurants in Place Jacques-Cartier are mostly seasonal.
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