Next year's Formula E race could have new location, Coderre says

Montreal Mayor DenisCoderrehas raised the prospect that next year's edition of the controversialFormula E race could have a different location.

This year's edition of the race, held last month, took place on the streets around Maison Radio-Canada, angering dozens of residents and merchants in the east-end neighbourhood.

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Race organizers used both parking lots of the Radio-Canada building as staging area for tents, equipment and bleachers.

But shortly after the race ended construction began in the eastern lot on a new building for Maison Radio-Canada.

"Now that the building has been sold, and there will be construction, we have to reconsider: Can we have the same circuit?" Coderresaid Thursday.

"We are in the process of looking at options. We are taking into account that we won't have the same access to Radio-Canada parking lots."

'Can't happen to us again'

Critics of the race, which cost the city at least $25 million to host, have questioned why it wasn't held on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve,where Montreal's annual F1 race is held.

Residents who were affected by this year's race said they're worried the mayor will simply move next year's editionto another neighbourhood, inconveniencing a whole new set of residents.

"Wedon'twant to see that event shifting to yet another part ofthe city," said Heidi Miller, who organized an online opposition group to the racecalledFormuleCitoyenne.

"Itcan't happen to us again and it can't happen to other Montrealers."

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According to Miller, having the race in her neighbourhood was more thana mere inconvenience.

"People did not sleep at night from the beginning of the construction until the end of the event," she said.

Coderresaid at apost-mortemJuly 31 thatthe Formula E race was worth it, despite the apparent low turnoutand complaints.

The city has committed to holding the race again in 2018 and 2019.