Tom Clancy's Gentrification: Ubisoft's Mile End Neighborhood To Be 'Revitalized'
by William A. Mitchell Aug 13, 2008 6:00pm EST tags: Ubisoft, Government, Montreal
Ubisoft is playing a major role in the redevelopment of Montreal's historic Mile End district-- and not letting anyone know what they're up to.
The Mile End neighborhood is a four-block sector that used to house the city's bustling garment district, but fell into disuse over the past couple of decades. However, when Ubisoft opened its doors in Montreal, it poured millions of dollars into the community and unleashed an army of hungry lunch-time programmers upon its cheap, delicious restaurants.
While there have been complaints in the past about their gentrification of the neighborhood, nothing has raised local's ire more than the recent civic meetings to extend the prolific Rue St. Viateur east through some older warehouses and lofts. Despite Montreal's policy that aims to "foster public consultation practices that are transparent, credible, effective and useful to the decision-making process," the meetings to revitalize this land were held privately-- inside Ubisoft's offices.
While it can be argued either way that this kind of development is good or bad for a community known for cheap rent for creatives (and, as a byproduct, the area that gave rise to Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Phil Fish of Fez fame and countless other artists), it's certainly a testament to how far that Assassin's Creed money can go.