Shoebox houses walk in Park Extension

The “shoebox” house is a reminder of early suburbs of the city when small lots were available to build small, one-story houses, maybe with a vegetable garden alongside. Our borough, Villeray-St. Michel- Parc-Extension has recognized the architectural and social heritage of those fast-disappearing “shoeboxes” in today’s densifying housing landscape and enacted legislation to make it more difficult to demolish them, restrain redevelopment and encourage respectful renovation, maintenance and conservation by home-owners. A heritage architect was hired to make a report last summer. Our Historical Society was happy to collaborate in finding some 83 examples along our streets and we are eager to help other citizens discover them and appreciate their special features, using the Report’s classification based on construction dates and common architectural features dating from the “golden age” of brick masonry. Bring a camera. This is a good subject for our 2019 Jane’s Walk! Most boroughs in the central and east of Montreal have examples of a such construction, particularly Rosemont and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Some sites in Villeray have been prettily renovated while those in Park Extension tend to be plainer. Owners and would-be owners are becoming more aware of their special character. We will visit a cross section of residential streets, starting at Beaumont Avenue and Acadie Blvd. at the south west corner of Park Ex, and walk north east along 4 long blocks to the Jarry Street West underpass from where the 193 bus to Jarry metro and 80 to Parc metro and the 179 may be picked up. Small restaurants are not lacking.