Griffintown factory mulls relocation after health complaints from nearby residents

A neighbourhoodconflict between an industrial factory and a housing co-operative in Griffintownisraisingquestions about the Southwest borough's urban planning.

Thermetco, a company that offers heat treating services, is located across fromCooprativeD'HabitationTiohtiakeon William Street.

The company brings dozens of jobs to the area, but it may be forced to moveoff island following complaints from nearby residents.

When AlainGoyettemoved into the co-op in 2014heknew hewould be facing a factory, but added the promoters promised himthe company was on its way out.

• Griffintownfamilies get new green space
• Anonymous group says it vandalizedSaint-Henrirestaurant andProjetMontraloffice

Three years later, theThermetcofactory is still in operation.

"I have dust on my ears, myeyes, my nose, on my vocal chords," he said.

Goyettebelieveshe's hadhealth problems caused by chemicals emitted from the factory.

When the air exchanger isleft on overnight,Goyetteadded, he wakes up with an inflamed throat.

He is now undergoing tests to determine the damage to his health.

• 'We have to build the community': Social-housing projects stalled

The company, for its part, said it's been tryingto reduce the pollution and noise coming from the factory.

"We invested a quarter of a million dollars to mitigate the issues," general managerJean-Sbastien Lemire said.

But despite their best efforts, Lemire believes it will never be enough to satisfy the co-op's residents.

"At the beginning of this year, we decided to put the factory up for sale," he said.

70 local jobs at risk

If they manage to find a buyer for the Griffintown factory, Lemire says Thermetcomay move off island, a decision that could potentially put 70 local jobs at risk unless employees relocate.

"We don't want to lose them," said DavidPag, the chief of staff for Southwest borough Mayor BenoitDorais.

Pagsaid the borough is now "working very hard" to find a new site forThermetcowithin the Southwest or nearby to save the jobs.

• Pointe-Saint-Charles residents celebrate as community group gets keys to Btiment 7

City councillor Craig Sauvsaid the borough wouldn't be in this situation if it haddone itshomework before approving the housing project in the first place.

"Now we're in a situation where the residents are living with a real nuisance," he said.

Sauvsays the city's environmental and industrial departments are still at the stage of determining whether the smoke is dangerous or not.

"We don't even have that analysis right now," he said.

The borough saiditdid not have complete information on industrial activity in the area at the time that the housing co-op was built.